Digi-POD – Digitalised clinical decision support for the prevention of postoperative delirium

Postoperative delirium (POD) is a complication that can occur in patients with risk factors after surgery due to external triggers such as the type of surgery, medication or electrolyte imbalances. POD is particularly common in older patients and is associated with poor treatment outcomes and increased healthcare costs. 

However, its frequency can be reduced through a combination of pre-, intra- and postoperative measures tailored to the individual patient. 

To this end, the European Society of Anaesthesiology and Intensive Care (ESAIC) has updated its evidence-based clinical practice guidelines for the prevention of POD in adults. However, for various reasons, these guideline recommendations are not always fully implemented in clinical practice.

Within the framework of the Digi-POD project, we are converting the narrative ESAIC guideline into a digital format, which we are integrating into a clinical decision support system. This system will then be used in a clinical trial to investigate whether adherence to the guideline can be improved with the help of a digital guideline and whether POD can ultimately be prevented.