Narcotic-based sedation regimens for critically ill mechanically ventilated patients

doi:10.1186/cc3523

Critical Care
Volume 9
Issue 3

Viewing options:

Abstract
Full text
PDF (38KB)

Associated material:

Related literature:

Articles citing this article
on Google Scholar
on ISI Web of Science
on PubMed Central
Other articles by authors
on Google Scholar

Pandharipande P
Ely EW

on PubMed

Pandharipande P
Ely EW
Related articles/pages
on Google

on Google Scholar

on PubMed

Tools:

Post to:

Commentary

Narcotic-based sedation regimens for critically ill mechanically ventilated patients

Pratik Pandharipande¹ and E Wesley Ely²

¹Assistant Professor, Department of Anesthesiology/Division of Critical Care, Vanderbilt University School of Medicine, Nashville, Tennessee, USA

²Associate Professor, Department of Medicine, Center for Health Services Research and Division of Allergy/Pulmonary/Critical Care Medicine, Vanderbilt University School of Medicine and the VA Tennessee Valley Geriatric Research, Education and Clinical Center (GRECC), Nashville, Tennessee, USA

author email corresponding author email

Critical Care 2005, 9:247-248doi:10.1186/cc3523


Published:	18 April 2005

See related research article http://ccforum.com/content/9/3/R200

Abstract

Sedatives and analgesics are routinely used in the intensive care unit to relieve pain and anxiety. These agents have numerous side effects and may contribute to poor outcomes such as increased length of mechanical ventilation, longer ICU stays and acute and long-term cognitive dysfunction. Modifying sedation paradigms utilizing either narcotic-based regimens with remifentanil or fentanyl, or by using α₂agonists such as dexmedetomidine may help in improving these outcomes in critically ill patients.