4 weeks of ICU delirium after cardiac arrest, brain damage or part of ICU recovery?

[Dfpdbz]

Hi everyone. A friend recommended I post on this site as there are a lot of great people to have constructive discussions with!

My father suffered a cardiac arrest 5 weeks ago today. He received CPR 3 minutes after collapsing and was shocked within 8 minutes. He was put into an induced coma for 2 days where after sedation he initially showed only response to pain which then gradually progressed to moving limbs spontaneously. On Day 7 he had a tracheostomy and started to obey simple commands. On Day 10 he started to speak very softly, recognising family and asking nurses for tea.

Today (Day 38) he is able to go for 15 minute assisted walks with the physios and able to breathe on his own. The problem is his ICU delirium. At good times, he is able to phone me and have conversations without concentration lapses. At bad times, he gets agitated and very confused particularly at night and tries to get of bed and pull out tubes. At times, the doctors tried switching his meds which actually made things worse. He also had to be heavily sedated and couldn't even tell night from day when he picked up a chest infection (which he fortunately cleared) a week ago.

The doctors still don't know whats causing his delirium with 3 brain CT scans and 2 EEGs showing nothing. Now they want to do an MRI to check for hypoxic brain injurywhich they now tell us (because of his long term delirium) to prepare for the worst!

I was wondering how long long has people seen ICU delirium last? Should we expect the worst despite 3 CT scans showing nothing? I have read some informative posts about medications, pain, infections etc causing delirium rather than brain damage. Just looking for some reassurance is all.

With COVID we also haven't been able to physically visit which could help with Dad's delirium. Can anyone share any tips/tricks to keep him reminded that we are there for him! We have done video calls daily but he gets a little frustrated that we are not there.

[Baz51]

Hi there, sorry to hear about your father, i had a similar experience at the end of March, I had an emergency heart bypass (triple) and a stent

I also had pneumonia which bought on delirium, I had this for about 10 days and was treated with haloperidol.

I cannot remember anything at the time, and my memory was rubbish, and of course with COVID couldn’t have visitors.

Also makes you very tearful, so hope your dad gets better soon

[jowalk6]

I went through a cardiac arrest at home and spent 9 days on life support. I was in hospital for about a month but only remember about the last week or so. May be the same for your dad. I can't remember about two weeks before my arrest either including my little boys christening and none of this has ever come back. I also couldn't write what I was thinking it just came out like gobbledegook. It will take time and healing hun. Don't give up hope. My thoughts and prayers are with you x