Assessing sedation in a pediatric intensive care unit using Comfort Behavioural Scale and Bispectral Index: these

A Amigoni1, E Mozzo, L Brugnaro

  • 1Department of Pediatrics, University of Padua, Padua, Italy. amigoni@pediatria.unipd.it

Minerva Anestesiologica
|December 1, 2011
PubMed

Insights

Monitoring sedation in critically ill children using Comfort Behavioural Scale (CBS) and Bispectral Index (BIS) revealed BIS was better at predicting shorter hospital stays. Over-sedation risks were identified.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatric Critical Care Medicine
  • Neuroscience
  • Clinical Monitoring

Background:

  • Optimizing analgesic and sedative therapy is crucial for pediatric critical care patients.
  • Assessing patient comfort and sedation levels is essential for effective treatment.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To measure sedation levels in a Pediatric Intensive Care Unit (PICU) using the Comfort Behavioural Scale (CBS) and Bispectral Index (BIS).
  • To evaluate the agreement between CBS and BIS in assessing sedation.
  • To analyze the correlation between adequate sedation and patient outcomes.

Main Methods:

  • A prospective observational study involving 46 mechanically ventilated pediatric patients.
  • Monitoring sedation at baseline and during tracheal suctioning.
  • Assessing outcomes including ventilation duration, PICU stay, and sedative therapy length.

Main Results:

  • Adequate sedation was achieved in 26% (doctor CBS), 34.8% (nurse CBS), and 73.9% (BIS) of patients at baseline.
  • During stimulation, adequately sedated patients increased to 78.2% per CBS.
  • Agreement between CBS and BIS was weak; BIS monitoring correlated with shorter PICU stay and sedative duration.

Conclusions:

  • Data suggest a risk of oversedation in critically ill children.
  • Differences exist between CBS and BIS in detecting light oversedation.
  • BIS-identified excessive sedation was linked to longer hospitalization and sedative administration.
Abstract

Related Concept Videos

Stages of General Anesthesia01:22

Stages 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...
Sedatives and Hypnotics: Overview01:23

Sedatives and Hypnotics: Overview

Sedatives are drugs that alleviate anxiety, while hypnotics induce sleep. Both classes of medication suppress neuronal activity, leading to a calming effect for sedatives and facilitating sleep for hypnotics.
Sedative-hypnotics are categorized into barbiturates, benzodiazepines (BZDs), and non-benzodiazepines or Z-drugs. These drugs work by suppressing central nervous system activity, and this suppression is dose-dependent. Older sedative medications, like barbiturates, follow a linear curve in...
Sedatives and Hypnotics Drugs: Barbiturates01:20

Sedatives and Hypnotics Drugs: Barbiturates

Sedatives and hypnotics encompass a drug class that acts on the central nervous system (CNS) to alleviate anxiety, promote relaxation and induce sleep.These drugs function by amplifying the actions of the neurotransmitter γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA), resulting in reduced neuronal activity. Barbiturates, a subset of sedatives and hypnotics first synthesized in the late 1800s, are categorized into ultra-short, short, intermediate, and long-acting groups based on their duration of effect. A key...
CNS Depressants: Barbiturates and Benzodiazepines01:14

CNS Depressants: Barbiturates and Benzodiazepines

CNS depressants include drugs from the category of barbiturates and benzodiazepines. They are valuable medications for managing anxiety disorders and insomnia. Barbiturates, once used to induce and maintain sleep, have been replaced mainly by benzodiazepines due to barbiturate's toxicity, tolerance, and overdose risks. They interact with GABAA receptors, leading to sedation at low doses and potentially coma and death at higher doses. Phenobarbital, a long-acting barbiturate, possesses...
Sedatives and Hypnotics Drugs: Miscellaneous Agents01:17

Sedatives and Hypnotics Drugs: Miscellaneous Agents

Sedatives and hypnotics encompass a wide range of substances, each with its unique mechanism of action, uses, and potential adverse effects.
Melatonin congeners like ramelteon (Rozerem) and tasimelteon (Hetlioz) selectively bind to melatonin receptors (MT1 and MT2) and thus mimic the actions of melatonin, a hormone that regulates sleep-wake cycles. Tasimelteon is primarily used for non-24-hour sleep-wake disorder, common in blind patients. They are also used to treat conditions like insomnia...
Assessment of Ventilation I: Respiratory Rate01:20

Assessment of Ventilation I: Respiratory Rate

Assessment of Ventilation
A Ventilation assessment is critical for monitoring a patient's health status. Respiration, one of the most accessible vital signs, provides insights into the function of numerous body systems and can indicate serious health issues, such as brainstem injuries from head trauma.
Critical Guidelines for Assessing Ventilation: