Delirium is a condition of acute organic brain dysfunction with fluctuating disturbances of attention and cognition, and its prevalence in intensive care units (ICUs) is recorded as high as 80%.

Delirium is highly distressing for patients and families and commonly reported as the worst experience of ICU admission. Melatonin has been described as an attractive intervention for delirium prevention, and a large study hypothesised that early administration of melatonin effectively reduces delirium in critically ill patients.

In this podcast, Dr Wibrow details the results of this study with Dr Scaramuzzo.

Original paper: Prophylactic melatonin for delirium in intensive care (Pro-MEDIC): a randomized controlled trial

Speakers

Bradley WIBROW. Sir Charles Gairdner Hospital, Nedlands, WA, Australia and  Medical School, University of Western Australia, Perth, WA (AU).

Gaetano SCARAMUZZO. Department of Translational Medicine, University of Ferrara (IT). ESICM NEXT member.