A case of infant delirium in the neonatal intensive care unit

Article type: Case Report

Authors: Edwards, L.E.^a | Hutchison, L.B.^b | Hornik, C.D.^c | Smith, P.B.^a | Cotten, C.M.^a | Bidegain, M.^{a; *}

Affiliations: [a] Department of Pediatrics, Division of Neonatology, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC, USA | [b] Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC, USA | [c] Department of Pharmacy, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC, USA

Correspondence: [*] Address for correspondence: Margarita Bidegain, MD, 2424 Erwin Road, Suite 504, Box 2739. Durham NC, 27710, USA. Tel.: +1 919 668 1592; Fax: +1 919 681 6065; E-mail: margarita.bidegain@dm.duke.edu.

Abstract: Infant delirium is an under-recognized clinical entity in neonatal intensive care, and earlier identification and treatment could minimize morbidities associated with this condition. We describe a case of a 6-month-old former 32 weeks gestation infant undergoing a prolonged mechanical ventilation course diagnosed with delirium related to the combination of his underlying illness and the use of multiple sedative and analgesic medications. Initiation of the atypical antipsychotic risperidone allowed for weaning from continuous infusions of benzodiazepines and opiods, and lower dosages of bolus-dosed sedation and analgesics. The patient experienced no adverse side effects from use of this neuroleptic.

Keywords: Infant delirium, neonatal intensive care unit

DOI: 10.3233/NPM-1637

Journal: Journal of Neonatal-Perinatal Medicine, vol. 10, no. 1, pp. 119-123, 2017