The Effects of the Infusion of Hypertonic Sodium Chloride on the Prevention of Delirium After Surgery: Randomized Controlled

This research was performed to determine the effects of hypertonic sodium chloride on the prevention of delirium in surgical patients. This randomized, controlled, double-blind study was conducted between September 2018 and April 2019 in a training and research hospital, and orthopedic and cardiovascular surgery clinics. All patients who were hospitalized for orthopedic and cardiovascular surgery during this period formed the universe of the study. The study group consisted of 50 patients’ ≥ 65 years of age who were administered 3% hypertonic sodium chloride. The control group consisted of 50 patients’ ≥ 65 years of age who were administered 0.9% sodium chloride. A total of 100 patients formed the research sample. The Nursing Delirium Screening Scale and Mini-Mental State Examination were used as data collection tools. SPSS 25.0 statistical package was used to evaluate the data. For statistical significance, p < 0.05 was accepted as sufficient. The incidence of delirium after surgery was 40% in patients with 0.9% sodium chloride and 3% in patients with 3% hypertonic sodium chloride, and the difference was statistically significant (p < 0.05). Relative activity 6, attributed efficacy 30, and efficacy ratio 85 were calculated. Hypertonic sodium chloride is effective in reducing the incidence and severity of delirium after surgery.