Haemodynamic and respiratory responses, sensory block level, sedation depth and BAEP were assessed throughout induction and resolution of epidural anaesthesia.
According to our local sedation procedure, the nurses continuously monitored the sedation depth and adjusted the dosages of sedative and analgesic drugs to maintain the sedation target level to 3 or 4 points of degree on the SAS scale.
The aim of this study is thus to describe the association of early sedation strategies (sedation depth and sedative choice) with clinical outcomes of mechanically ventilated adult ICU patients, with hospital mortality as the primary outcome.
We investigated the relationship between early sedation depth, sum of Richmond Agitation Sedation Scale (RASS) -3 to -5 and clinical outcomes, including mortality.
In summary, the increased use of scoring systems for pain severity and sedation depth, a daily sedation break, the implementation of protocols, and the use of more short-acting medications for analgesia and sedation conform to the guidelines on patient-oriented analgesia and sedation.
These data included changes accomplished in sedation management since 2002, use of scores for pain severity and sedation depth, daily sedation break, implementation of written protocols, reasons for choice of medications used, and use of muscle relaxants.
SAPS II and Ramsay Sedation Scale (RSS) were used to assess physiological impairment and sedation depth.
Sedation depth, temperature, number of seizures and intensity, whole-body plethysmography parameters and electroencephalography activity were measured.
In the baseline phase (36 patients/422 measurements) using the RAMSAY score, sedation depth documented by the nurses and the observer matched in only 39% of the measurements.
It is evident from the studies by Tanaka and colleagues [ 1] and others [ 3, 8] that sedation depth early in critical illness adversely impacts patient outcomes.
