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Objective Nociceptive Assessment in Ventilated ICU Patients: A Feasibility Study Using Pupillometry and the Nociceptive Flexion Reflex
Published on: July 4, 2018
Sedatives, analgesics, and paralytics in the ICU
S M Watling1, J F Dasta, E C Seidl
1Critical Care Department of Pharmacy, University of Missouri, Columbia 65212, USA.
The Annals of Pharmacotherapy
|February 1, 1997
Summary
Intensive care unit (ICU) patients frequently receive sedative, analgesic, and paralytic (SAP) therapy, with opiates and benzodiazepines being most common. Current practices often lack standardized protocols and sufficient pharmacokinetic data.
Area of Science:
- Critical Care Medicine
- Clinical Pharmacology
- Pharmacy Practice
Background:
- Sedative, analgesic, and paralytic (SAP) agents are crucial in intensive care unit (ICU) management.
- Understanding current SAP drug use patterns and practitioner perceptions is essential for optimizing patient care.
Purpose of the Study:
- To gather practitioner insights on current SAP practices, including drug selection and administration.
- To assess real-world SAP drug use patterns, dosages, and combination therapies in multiple ICUs.
Main Methods:
- A survey was administered to 138 critical care professionals.
- Drug administration data for SAP therapy was collected over 5 consecutive days in participating ICUs.
Main Results:
- 51% of participants completed surveys; 45% provided drug administration data.
- SAP therapy was administered to patients 62% of the study days.
- Opiates and benzodiazepines were the most frequently used drugs, often in combination via continuous infusion.
Conclusions:
- SAP agents are widely used in ICUs, with a preference for opiates and benzodiazepines.
- Continuous infusion of SAP agents is common despite limited pharmacokinetic data.
- Further research is needed to standardize endpoints and gather pharmacokinetic/pharmacodynamic data for ICU patients.
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