Clinical CPD topic
Delirium: practise, reflect and record
Practise delirium through five clinical cases, review the explanations and build a professional learning record. Recognise postoperative delirium and select the 4AT for bedside assessment.
First published · Sources checked
What you’ll work on
- Recognise postoperative delirium and select the 4AT for bedside assessment.
- Interpret positive urine findings cautiously and identify anticholinergic medication toxicity.
- Choose supportive delirium care and withhold implicated anticholinergic medicines when appropriate.
Think through a clinical case
Decide how you would approach this case before opening the question session.
A 78-year-year-old man undergoes elective hip replacement surgery. Post-operatively, he develops confusion, agitation, visual hallucinations, and fluctuating levels of consciousness, worse in the evenings. His observations are stable, and routine blood tests including electrolytes, FBC, CRP, and calcium are normal. What is the most likely diagnosis?
A case from the UKMLA question bank. The session provides the answer and explanation after your attempt.
From a decision to a learning record
- Test your reasoning. Answer five questions from this topic’s clinical-content library.
- Explore the gaps. Review explanations and use Tutor to work through decisions that need more thought.
- Reflect on application. Describe what you learned and what you would change or investigate.
- Review your evidence. Confirm the activity and time spent, then retain or export your professional record.
Primary sources and further reading
Read the source in the same jurisdiction as your question session.
- Recommendations | Delirium: prevention, diagnosis and management in hospital and long-term care | Guidance | NICEUK source
- Recommendations | Dementia: assessment, management and support for people living with dementia and their carers | Guidance | NICEUK source
- Recommendations | Urinary tract infection (lower): antimicrobial prescribing | Guidance | NICEUK source
- Oxybutynin hydrochloride 5mg/5ml Oral Solution — UK SmPCUK source
- Amitriptyline Hydrochloride 50mg/5ml Oral Solution — UK SmPCUK source