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Dr. Orser.


Dr. Orser
 
 

New innovative study measures cognitive function associated with major joint replacement surgery

January 2020 
Read the article

 
 

Congratulations, Dr. Bev Orser!

October 2019
Dr. Beverley Orser inducted into the National Academy of Medicine

 
Research Coordinator and a patient

Research should always begin with a smile!

September 2019
Patients are critical to the success of our research

 
 

With Gift to U of T, Sunnybrook Anesthesiologists Invest in Improving Post-Surgery Brain Health

June 2019
Read the University of Toronto Faculty of Medicine News article.

 

Under the knife and unaware? What happens when we're under anesthesia

June 2018
Listen to the interview with Dr. Beverley Orser on CBC's The Current

 

Research offers explanation for why drug reduces postoperative confusion

June 2018
Read the article

 

The post-op brain, Science Magazine

June 2017
Read article summary. Please contact us for a full copy of the article.

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Brain health by the numbers


View a plain-text version of the infographic »

Delirium:

  • Disturbance in consciousness with reduced ability to focus, sustain, or shift attention
  • Change in memory, language or orientation, or development ofa perceptual disturbance not explained bya pre-existing, established, or evolving dementia
  • Disturbance develops over a short period of time (usually hours to days) and tends to fluctuate during the day
  • Caused by direct physiological consequences of a general medical condition

Delirium by the numbers:

  • 12-51% post-operative
  • 19-82% intensive care
  • 20-56% nursing home
  • 47% palliative care
  • 27% stroke units
  • 8-17% emergency room

Risks

Delirium increases:

  • odds of dying in hospital by 2-4X
  • odds of dying within 6 months by 2.5-5X
  • length of hospital stay by 2X
  • risk of being re-admitted to the hospital by 2X
  • rates of cognitive decline and dementia up to 41X

Delirium is expensive:

  • it costs one Toronto hospital an estimated $17 million dollars a year from 'increased length of stay' alone

Delirium can be prevented:

  • 30-40% of delirium cases can be prevented

Using the CHASM care plan for the prevention and management of delirium, a series of interventions in the following areas:

C - Cognition and perception

H - Hydration

A - Agitation

S - Sleep-wake cycle

M - Mobility

Brought to you by the:

Perioperative Brain Health Centre at Sunnybrook


Contact Us

For all general inquiries, please contact us directly. For media inquiries, please contact Sunnybrook's communications & stakeholder relations team.

Email: brainhealth@sunnybrook.ca
Phone: 416-480-6100 ext: 89607
Fax: 416-480-6039

Mailing address:
2075 Bayview Ave, Room M3-200
Toronto, Ontario, M4N 3M5
View map & directions »


» Learn about Sunnybrook's department of anesthesia