A prospective cohort followed 1,331 adults undergoing isolated coronary bypass or valve surgery at 10 Palestinian centers for postoperative hallucinations through day 7. Visual hallucinations occurred in 155 patients (11.6%) and auditory hallucinations in 92 (6.9%), with similar rates in males and females. In exploratory sex-stratified models, postoperative noradrenaline requirement was associated with auditory hallucinations among females (adjusted HR 4.35, 95% CI 2.18–8.68), but this model included only 22 events. The authors emphasized that these findings require confirmation in studies incorporating structured delirium assessment.
Hallucinations were reported during the first week after cardiac surgery in both sexes. The exploratory associations do not establish causation or justify changes to perioperative medication use.
Study limitation: Sex-stratified associations are hypothesis-generating; the female auditory-hallucination model included only 22 events, and structured delirium assessment is needed.
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