A 80-year-old woman has been admitted following a hip fracture. She is on day 3 post-operatively and has developed a new acute confusional state. Her ...

Question

A 80-year-old woman has been admitted following a hip fracture. She is on day 3 post-operatively and has developed a new acute confusional state. Her 4AT score is 8. She was cognitively intact before the fracture. Which of the following is the MOST important IMMEDIATE step in her management?

Accepted Answer

Perform a systematic assessment to identify and treat the underlying cause: check for pain, infection (particularly chest, urinary, wound), constipation, urinary retention, medication review, and metabolic derangement

Answer

Prescribe Haloperidol 2 mg to sedate her

Answer

Arrange an urgent CT head

Answer

Restrain her to prevent her pulling out her IV lines

Answer

Discharge her home as she does not want to be in hospital

uk-dgm MCQ (SBA): Post-Operative Delirium - Systematic Cause Identification

A 80-year-old woman has been admitted following a hip fracture. She is on day 3 post-operatively and has developed a new acute confusional state. Her 4AT score is 8. She was cognitively intact before the fracture. Which of the following is the MOST important IMMEDIATE step in her management?