Cardiothoracic & vascular anesthesia
Effect of peri‐operative pharmacological interventions on postoperative delirium in patients having cardiac surgery: a systematic review and Bayesian network meta‐analysis
Pooled result · Postoperative deliriumResult — go to the resultRelative risk 0.31 95% CrI 0.13–0.69Authors' conclusion
We identified dexmedetomidine with melatonin as the most effective pharmacological strategy for preventing postoperative delirium following cardiac surgery.
Study context
- Population
- Patients having cardiac surgery
- Participants
- 24,827 patients · 79 RCTs
- Comparison
- 29 peri-operative pharmacological interventions vs placebo
- Outcome
- Incidence of postoperative delirium
Methodological detailsSUCRA ranking, GRADE assessment, sensitivity analyses
- SUCRA ranking
- GRADE assessment
- Sensitivity analyses
Pooled result
Postoperative delirium
Relative risk
0.31
95% CrI 0.13–0.69
Dexmedetomidine + melatonin vs Placebo
RR 0.31 (95% CrI 0.13–0.69)
As reported in the abstract
Further pooled results
| Outcome | MD (days) (95% CrI) |
|---|---|
| ICU stayCrI; reported as significantly decreased | 2.4 (−3.50-1.10) |
| Hospital stayCrI; significantly decreased | 1.32 (−2.09 to −0.57) |
- ICU stay: 95%CrI
- Hospital stay: 95%CrI
Other interventions (incl. ketamine, risperidone)
- Potential efficacy but low or very low certainty of evidence
Original publication
Effect of peri‐operative pharmacological interventions on postoperative delirium in patients having cardiac surgery: a systematic review and Bayesian network meta‐analysis. Anaesthesia. Published 1 September 2025. doi:10.
Composed by AI from the published abstract and checked against it. How Briefs are made →