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Table 5 Summary of the efficacy of the interventions.

From: Strategies for prevention of postoperative delirium: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized trials

Conclusions based on Perioperative procedures and drugs (>, superior to; =, equally effective to; UC*, uncertain) Pharmacological, psychological or multicomponent interventions (>, superior to; =, equally effective to; UC, uncertain)
Meta-analysis Postoperative sedation: dexmedetomidine > other sedatives [41, 44] Typical antipsychotics > placebo [22, 29, 54]
Atypical antipsychotics > placebo [36, 45, 52]
Multicomponent interventions > standard [25, 35]
  Anesthesia type: neuraxial = general [17, 20, 27, 31]
Analgesia type: epidural = intravenous [19, 24, 32] 		Acetylcholinesterase inhibitors = placebo [30, 37, 39, 48]
   Atypical antipsychotics UC typical antipsychotics [22, 29, 36, 45, 52, 54]
Sleep restoration: bright light UC standard [38, 49]
Single study Sedation depth: light > deep [47]
Additional ketamine > routine general anesthesia induction [40]
Additional fascia iliaca compartment block > standard analgesia [43] 		Anticonvulsants: gabapentin > placebo [33]; pregabalin > placebo [50]
Sleep restoration: diazepam/flunitrazepam/pethidine > standard [26]
  Additional N2O during general anesthesia = standard [34] Histamine H2 blockers: cimetidine UC ranitidine [21]
Psychiatric intervention UC standard [18]
Music UC standard [42]
  Controlled hypotension: mild UC marked [23]
Anesthetics plus epidural anesthesia: propofol UC sevoflurane [28]
Anesthetics during general anesthesia: propofol UC desflurane [51]
Analgesics: Long-acting morphine UC placebo [53]
Postoperative sedation: clonidine UC other sedatives [46] 		 
  1. *The efficacy is considered uncertain if there is more than 50% difference in incidences of delirium between the two interventions, or if the quality score of the trial is below 6.
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