• To enhance your knowledge of the causes, risk factors and symptoms of common neurological complications following cardiac surgery, specifically delirium and post-operative cognitive decline
• To familiarise yourself with the assessment, diagnosis and management of delirium and post-operative cognitive decline
• To contribute towards revalidation as part of your 35 hours of CPD (UK readers)
• To contribute towards your professional development and local registration renewal requirements (non-UK readers)
Despite recent technological advances in the field of surgery, neurological complications remain a significant post-operative issue. Two of the most common post-operative complications are delirium and post-operative cognitive decline, which occur frequently after cardiac surgery. This article provides an overview of delirium and post-operative cognitive decline, including risk factors, signs and symptoms, and diagnosis. The author also considers the nurse’s role in managing patients who are at risk of, or have experienced, delirium or post-operative cognitive decline after cardiac surgery.
Nursing Standard. doi: 10.7748/ns.2023.e12034
Peer reviewThis article has been subject to external double-blind peer review and checked for plagiarism using automated software
Correspondence Conflict of interestNone declared
Bowden T, Magboo R, Navales V (2023) Managing common neurological complications following cardiac surgery. Nursing Standard. doi: 10.7748/ns.2023.e12034
Published online: 23 October 2023
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