Delirium After Cardiac Surgery and Cumulative Fluid Balance: A Case-Control Cohort Study

Objective To assess a novel hypothesis to explain delirium after cardiac surgery through the relationship between cumulative fluid balance and delirium. This hypothesis involved an inflammatory process combined with a hypervolemic state, which could lead to venous congestion reaching the brain. Design Retrospective case-control (1:1) cohort study. Setting University-affiliated tertiary cardiology center. Participants Cardiac surgery intensive...