Simple painkiller may stop Post-Surgery brain fog in seniors

NCT ID NCT04093219

Completed Prevention Sponsor: Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center Source: ClinicalTrials.gov ↗

First seen Jun 25, 2026 · Last updated Jun 27, 2026 · Updated 1 time

Summary

This study tested whether giving IV acetaminophen (Tylenol) every 6 hours during and after heart surgery could prevent delirium—sudden confusion—in patients aged 60 and older. Delirium is common after heart surgery and can lead to longer hospital stays and other problems. The trial enrolled 900 older adults having bypass or valve surgery and compared the drug to a placebo (saline). The goal was to see if this simple, low-cost approach could reduce the risk of postoperative delirium.

What this could mean

Our plain-language read of the trial. This is informational only — not medical advice or a prediction.

Active substance: IV acetaminophen (Tylenol)
What this could lead to: If it works, this could provide a simple, safe way to prevent delirium after heart surgery in older patients.
What could go wrong: This trial is completed but results may not show a clear benefit; delirium is complex and a single drug may not be enough. Also, the study only included older adults having specific heart surgeries.

This is an AI summary of the original study and may miss details. Read our disclaimer.

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Conditions

The condition(s) this trial relates to.

coronary artery disorder delirium

As listed by the trial registrant

The condition terms exactly as the trial's registrant entered them.

CORONARY ARTERY DISEASE DELIRIUM DELIRIUM IN OLD AGE

Contacts and locations

Locations

Albert Einstein College of Medicine- Montefiore

The Bronx, New York, 10467, United States
Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center

Boston, Massachusetts, 02215, United States
Brigham and Women's Hospital

Boston, Massachusetts, 02115, United States
Columbia University Irving Medical Center

New York, New York, 10032, United States
Massachusetts General Hospital

Boston, Massachusetts, 02114, United States
University of Alabama at Birmingham

Birmingham, Alabama, 35233, United States
University of California Irvine

Irvine, California, 92697, United States
University of California Los Angeles

Los Angeles, California, 90095, United States
University of Pittsburgh Medical Center

Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, 15213, United States
Yale University/Yale New Haven Hospital

New Haven, Connecticut, 06510, United States

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