Passage syndrome after heart surgery

Transition syndrome is a temporary mental disorder that can occur after major surgery. It is characterized by orientation disorders, confusion, mood swings and hallucinations. A vegetative concomitant reaction with outbreaks of sweating, high blood pressure and palpitations often occurs. This phenomenon occurs more frequently after heart surgery, especially if the operation was performed using a heart-lung machine.

Passage syndrome after artificial coma

In an artificial coma, a patient is put into a state similar to general anesthesia for days or even weeks by medication. Consciousness and pain sensation are switched off. This is achieved by anaesthetics and painkillers which are continuously administered to the patient via the vein.

During this time, the patient is strictly monitored in an intensive care unit.This is done after serious brain injuries, lengthy operations or in the case of serious infections, when artificial respiration is necessary. When the body recovers from the original problem, the intensive care physicians make the decision to reduce the medication that keeps the patient in this artificial sleep. It is easy to imagine that during this waking phase and afterwards, a transit syndrome can occur. The patients are confused and disoriented, often aggressive. It takes time until they get used to the environment again and are able to classify what they have experienced.

Passage syndrome after a stroke

A stroke is a sudden disturbance of blood circulation in the brain, resulting in the death of nerve cells. Often the affected person has to be treated in the intensive care unit for a while. Here it is apparent that these patients often experience temporary confusion or disorientation. This is called continuity syndrome. It is common in brain disorders and during a stay in intensive care.

Continuity syndrome after a heart attack

A heart attack causes sudden circulatory disturbances in the heart, resulting in the death of heart muscle cells. Life threatening cardiac arrhythmia can be the result. Therefore, many patients are first monitored in the intensive care unit.

Here too, a continuity syndrome can occur. The risk of this temporary disorientation disorder is lower than with diseases of the brain or after operations. With the duration of the intensive care unit stay, however, the probability of developing a continuity syndrome also increases here.