Using IV acetaminophen to prevent delirium after heart surgery in older patients
Official title: Scheduled Prophylactic 6-hourly IV Acetaminophen to Prevent Postoperative Delirium in Older Cardiac Surgical Patients
Funded at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center · NIH-10761741 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is looking at whether giving older adults IV acetaminophen every six hours after heart surgery can help prevent confusion and disorientation, known as delirium, in the first couple of days after their operation.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Boston, United States) |
| Project start | September 30, 2019 |
| Project end | November 30, 2025 |
| Funding year | 2024 |
| Award (this year) | $837,075 |
| NIH project number | 5R01AG065554-05 |
| Project ID | NIH-10761741 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are older adults aged 60 and above who are scheduled to undergo cardiac surgery.
✕Less likely to help
Patients who are younger than 60 or those not undergoing cardiac surgery may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research investigates whether administering IV acetaminophen every six hours can help prevent postoperative delirium in older adults who undergo cardiac surgery. The study will involve a randomized, triple-blind clinical trial with 900 participants aged 60 and older, focusing on the first 48 hours after surgery. By addressing factors like inflammation and pain management, the research aims to reduce the incidence and severity of delirium, which is a common complication in this patient population.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could significantly reduce the occurrence of postoperative delirium, improving recovery and overall outcomes for older cardiac surgery patients.
How similar studies have gone: While few pharmacological interventions have been tested for this purpose, the use of acetaminophen in this context is a novel approach that has not been extensively studied.
Where this research is happening
-
Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center
Boston, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Subramaniam, Balachundhar — Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center
- Study coordinator: Subramaniam, Balachundhar
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
-
Lipocalin-2 and delirium after surgery in Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias
A study at Duke University looks at how an inflammatory protein called lipocalin-2 may trigger delirium after surgery, especially in people at risk for Alzheimer’s and related dementias.
-
Commercialization of an EEG-guided anesthesia system to reduce delirium in older adults and those at risk for Alzheimer’s
A new wireless EEG-guided anesthesia system aims to reduce postoperative delirium in seniors and people with or at risk for Alzheimer’s by personalizing brain monitoring during surgery.
-
Delirium after surgery and its link to Alzheimer's and related dementias
This project looks at why older adults and people with or at risk for Alzheimer's can get delirium after surgery and how that might increase later dementia risk.
-
Intraoperative EEG-Guided Anesthesia to Reduce Delirium in Older Adults and Those with Alzheimer’s or Related Dementias
A new system uses brainwave monitoring during surgery to tailor anesthesia and reduce delirium risk in older patients and those with Alzheimer’s disease or related dementias.
-
Understanding how blood biomarkers link delirium after surgery to Alzheimer’s disease
This study tests whether blood markers of Alzheimer's disease can predict and explain delirium after surgery in older adults.
-
Neuroinflammation, Protective Brain Scaffolds, and Delirium After Surgery
This project looks at why older people often get delirium after surgery and how brain tissues called perineural nets might influence this, with the goal of improving outcomes for people at risk of Alzheimer’s-related conditions.
About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page.