Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jun 7, 2026
09:47
Anesthesia and Intubation of Preadolescent Mouse Pups for Cardiothoracic Surgery
Published on: June 2, 2022
Etomidate for procedural sedation in the elderly: a retrospective comparison between age groups
1Emergency Medicine, Midwestern University, Downers Groove, IL 60515-1235, USA. mtcicero27@gmail.com
The American Journal of Emergency Medicine
|October 30, 2010
Summary
Etomidate is a safe and effective option for procedural sedation in both elderly and adult patients in the emergency department (ED). This study found no significant difference in complication rates or length of stay (LOS) between these age groups.
Area of Science:
- Emergency Medicine
- Pharmacology
- Geriatrics
Background:
- Procedural sedation is common in emergency departments (EDs).
- Etomidate is an anesthetic agent used for procedural sedation.
- Comparing its safety and efficacy in elderly versus adult populations is crucial.
Purpose of the Study:
- To compare complication rates and length of stay (LOS) for etomidate procedural sedation.
- To evaluate outcomes in elderly (65+) versus adult (18-64) patients.
- To determine if age impacts etomidate safety in the ED.
Main Methods:
- Retrospective analysis of electronic medical records (June 2004-June 2008).
- Included patients receiving etomidate for procedural sedation in the ED.
- Excluded patients under 18 or intubated; utilized first-time ED visits only.
Main Results:
- No significant difference in adverse effects between elderly and adult groups.
- Mean LOS was comparable: 225 minutes (elderly) vs. 205 minutes (adult).
- Complications were associated with a statistically significant increase in LOS (68 minutes longer).
Conclusions:
- Etomidate is a safe and effective procedural sedation alternative for the elderly.
- Outcomes for etomidate sedation in the elderly are comparable to the general adult population.
- Age is not a significant factor in etomidate-related complications or LOS in the ED.
Related Concept Videos
01:27Pharmacodynamics in Geriatric Patients: Effects of Age
Age-related pharmacokinetic changes are extensively documented, but understanding age-related pharmacodynamic alterations is relatively limited. This knowledge gap can be partly attributed to the complexity of developing appropriate measures of drug responses compared to bioanalytical methods for determining drug concentrations.Most information regarding age-related differences in human pharmacodynamics originates from cross-sectional studies. However, these studies assume that observed mean...
01:24Parenteral Anesthetics: Overview
Intravenous anesthetics are drugs administered parenterally to induce anesthesia or sedation. Propofol is a widely used agent formulated as a 1% emulsion in soybean oil, glycerol, and egg phosphatide. It induces rapid anesthesia primarily due to its rapid distribution from the bloodstream to target tissues and is metabolized in the liver. However, it can cause significant pain on injection and hypertriglyceridemia. Fospropofol, a water-based prodrug of propofol, lacks these adverse effects.
01:22Stages of General Anesthesia
Various sedation levels offer significant advantages in facilitating procedural interventions for patients undergoing medical or invasive surgical procedures. These levels span from anxiolysis to general anesthesia, providing a spectrum of sedative effects to cater to specific patient needs. Anxiolysis reduces anxiety and is achieved through minimal sedation, enabling patients to remain awake and responsive while feeling more at ease during the procedure. This level can benefit minor...
01:15Drug Dosing: Geriatric Patients
Elderly individuals encompass a diverse population with varying degrees of age-related physiological changes. Defining the elderly presents challenges, as the geriatric population is often arbitrarily categorized as individuals older than 65. However, many individuals in this group lead active and healthy lives, with an increasing number surpassing 85 years and falling into the older elderly category. Physiological changes associated with aging impact performance capacity and homeostatic...
01:22Pharmacokinetics in Geriatric Patients: Effect of Age on Drug Absorption
As individuals age, their body's physiology evolves, affecting drug pharmacokinetics. The most apparent changes occur in the gastrointestinal tract, where an increase in gastric pH, a delay in gastric emptying, and a reduction in gastrointestinal motility are observed. Remarkably, these changes do not substantially modify the absorption of orally administered drugs, particularly those absorbed via passive diffusion.Transdermal drug delivery emerges as a highly viable method for older adults due...
01:18Pharmacokinetics in Geriatric Patients: Effect of Age on Drug Metabolism
Geriatric patients show significant variation in how their bodies process medications, which can change how effective and safe treatments are. The liver is the primary organ where drug metabolism occurs, involving two main types of chemical reactions: phase I and II. Phase I metabolism is driven by the cytochrome P450 enzyme system, which includes key types such as CYP3A, CYP2D6, and CYP2C9. Research indicates that while aging doesn't notably alter the levels or activity of these enzymes, it...