More than 7 million hospitalized Americans suffer from delirium each year. Delirium is a state of confusion that comes on very suddenly and can last from hours to days. The elderly are particularly impacted with delirium relating to a hospital admission, but bear in mind that a number of different things can cause delirium. Your surgeon and health care team will work with you and your family to screen for risk factors, and may possibly refer you for further evaluation and give your caregiver tools on how to manage delirium should you experience it.