Perioperative Brain Health Centre
News & media

Study: Scoping review finds general anesthesia may lead to cognitive deficits

Congratulations to Dr. Stephen Choi
November 2021
Project led by Dr. Choi has been funded by the Anesthesia Patient Safety Foundation.

Dr. Beverley Orser featured on 'Anesthesiology News' Podcast

Anesthesia Impairs Memory in Mice

New report highlights Canadian shortage of anesthesiologists in rural and remote regions

Congratulations to Dr. Beverley Orser
March 2020
Dr. Orser has received the 2020 Canadian College of Neuropsychopharmacology Medal.

New innovative study measures cognitive function associated with major joint replacement surgery
January 2020
Read the article

The power of giving: The fight against brain disease
November 2019
We are pleased to bring you stories about how our research is dedicated to the fight against brain disease.

Congratulations, Dr. Bev Orser!
October 2019
Dr. Beverley Orser inducted into the National Academy of Medicine
Research should always begin with a smile!
September 2019
Patients are critical to the success of our research

Patient view: what it's like to experience delirium

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.
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
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