BACKGROUND Sedation strategy in critically ill patients who are mechanically ventilated is influenced by patient-related factors, choice of sedative agent and the intensity or depth of sedation prescribed. The impact of sedation strategy on outcome, in particular when delivered early after initiation of mechanical ventilation, is uncertain. OBJECTIVES To present the protocol and analysis plan...

Citation Strom T, Martinussen T, Toft P: A protocol of no sedation for critically ill patients receiving mechanical ventilation: a randomized trial.

BACKGROUND The aim of this study was to assess the impact on mechanical ventilation and ICU outcomes of substituting remifentanil for sufentanil, in an analgesia-based sedation protocol. A database of data prospectively collected was retrospectively analyzed. The study was carried out in a 16-bed tertiary-care ICU. METHODS The study included 1544 mechanically ventilated patients admitted from...

BACKGROUND Standard treatment of critically ill patients undergoing mechanical ventilation is continuous sedation. Daily interruption of sedation has a beneficial effect, and in the general intesive care unit of Odense University Hospital, Denmark, standard practice is a protocol of no sedation. We aimed to establish whether duration of mechanical ventilation could be reduced with a protocol of...

BACKGROUND In the intensive care unit (ICU), analgesia and sedation are used to improve the comfort and safety of patients undergoing intensive care therapies. However, continuous administration of sedatives prolongs the time on mechanical ventilation and ICU stay. These adverse effects can be reduced by clear definition of the goals of sedation combined with a sedation protocol. METHODS The ...

INTRODUCTION Most clinicians give sedatives and analgesics according to their professional experience and the patient's estimated need for sedation. However, this approach is prone to error. Inadequate monitoring of sedation and analgesia may contribute to adverse outcomes and complications. With this in mind, data obtained continuously using nonstimulating methods such as bispectral index (BIS...

BACKGROUND Sedatives and analgesic drugs give comfort and allow adequate respiratory support to critically ill patients in mechanical ventilation (MV). Its improper use may increase the duration of MV. Clinical guidelines suggest implementation of protocols, however this is seldom done in clinical practice. AIM To compare in MV patients, nurse-applied guided by protocol administration of seda...

Background Daily interruption of continuous infusion of sedatives has improved outcomes in patients receiving mechanical ventilation in open-label studies. Objectives To assess the feasibility of a protocol for a doubleblind, randomized, controlled trial study on the impact of routine daily interruption of sedation in patients receiving mechanical ventilation. Methods A total of 50 patients rec...