Question
My dad recently underwent surgery for an arterial aneurysm. The sutgery went bad and he spent 6 hours in the or. He had to b revived several times and ended up on a ventilator as well as several other tubes and machines. For seven days he lay unable to speak, open his eyes rtc. During this 7 days he had to be shocked as his heart kept kumping rythem. Now he is a little better, (they say he is not out of the woods yet) I would like to know if dementia is normal in these situations. He has of course been getting heavy doese of morphine. It's horrible to see him so confused, talking about pushing the bed upstairs, seeing bugs and bats and wearing a diaper. He has to have a "sitter" 24/7 as he keeps trying to get up and he is also restrained. Please let me know if this is "normal" and should this go away? thanks
Answer
You don't mention his age but it's not all that important.
The medications he is being given can DEFINITELY cause problems such as you describe, so can his being in an ICU unit and in such serious condition where he is being messed with 24/7.
People in this situation often develop what we always referred to as ICU Psychosis. It can happen to anyone of any age, without or without mind altering meds. It comes from intereuppted sleep and total lack of sleep and loss of contact with the outside world (not knowing date time of day, etc.)
Further, if your Dad is a bit on the elderly side...There is another syndrome referred to as Sundowner's. There is really no explanation for it, but the elderly will be completely lucid thru the daylight hours and about sundown begin to slip into a bit of dementia. This happens whjether they have access to a window or not. It seems to stem from a change in their surroundings and usual routine of life.
What you are describing is not at all unusual, considering what he has endured.
There is also one other possibility..and that is that during his times when he needed resuscitation, the blood flow to the brain was interruppted enough that some permanent damage occurred. But that is not the most likely scenario here.
Please keep us posted on his condition. And our prayers are with you and your family as you struggle thru this with him.
Some things you can do to help are:
Visit as often as possible.
Read to him from current events (using dates as often as possible)
Tell him all the family gossip and doings.
Try to gently remind him (often) of what day and time it is and what is going on.
Gently remind him that what he is seeing and hearing are not really there, but not to the point where he gets agitated.
There is one other factor that may be a contributor. And I really hate to mention this, but if it is a possibility, the physician's need to know about it.....
If your Father has been a heavy drinker, this may be a withdrawal type situation. If that is the case. Please notify the medical staff immediately. This can turn life-threatening very quickly.
Keeping you safe, healthy and on the road.
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Answer
Thank you for all of the information. It has been most helpful. I went to Vermont to see him today and he seems a bit better. He still has a bit of dementia but seems to be coming around. Funny you mention him losing a bit of memory from lack of oxygen. Ten years ago he had a heart attack and triple bypass. My mom swears his memory got bad after that. No he is most definatly not a drinker! However he is a closet smoker and beleives none of us know. We made sure his surgeon knew this before he went in. I think he is finally on the mend with only small setbacks now. He is 69. Hope you are recuping from your surgery, I had knee surgery a couple of years ago for some torn cartilage and was told I will need total knee replacement within a few years due to arthritis. Surgeon said I had arthritis worse thatn anyone he's ever seen my age (43). Not looking forward to it at all! Fell better soon and again thanks.
Answer
It may take some time tho, and I think you will find it gets better after they decrease the meds and let him get some solid hours of sleep.
My orthopedist said my Left knee looked as if Ihad played Pro Football for a few years!
Keeping you safe, healthy and on the road.
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