title: Sedation of critically ill patients during mechanical ventilation. A comparison of propofol and midazolam.
abstract: Propofol (P) and midazolam (M) are frequently given by continuous infusion for sedation in critically ill, mechanically ventilated patients. We compared these drugs with regard to: (1) time-to-awaken; (2) reproducibility of bedside assessments of level of sedation; (3) time-to-sedation; and (4) change in oxygen consumption (V O2) from awake to sedated state. Seventy-three patients were prospectively randomized to receive either P (n=37) or M (n=36). Wake-up times after stopping the drug were assessed by blinded and unblinded observers, by asking patients to perform simple tasks. Times to sedate were assessed by consensus agreement among nurses and investigators. Demographics and APACHE II scores were not different between P and M. The P group had a significantly narrower range of wake-up times with a higher likelihood of waking in less than 60 min. Blinded versus unblinded observations had excellent correlation. Average time to sedate and decrease in V O2 were not different. We conclude that in this patient population: (1) both P and M achieved optimal sedation in a large fraction of patients when administered by specified dosing protocols; (2) P had a faster, more reliable, wake-up time; (3) assessments of time-to-awaken were objective and reproducible; (4) time to sedation was not significantly different; (5) V O2 decreased similarly with both.
authors.affiliation: University of Chicago, Department of Medicine, Illinois 60637, USA.
authors.forename: J P
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Kress
authors.forename: M F
authors.initials: MF
authors.lastname: O'Connor
authors.forename: A S
authors.initials: AS
authors.lastname: Pohlman
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Olson
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Lavoie
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Toledano
authors.forename: J B
authors.initials: JB
authors.lastname: Hall
mesh_terms: D018806:APACHE; D016292:Procedural Sedation; D016638:Critical Illness; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006993:Hypnotics and Sedatives / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D007262:Infusions, Intravenous; D008297:Male; D008874:Midazolam / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D008875:Middle Aged; D015588:Observer Variation; D010101:Oxygen Consumption / Q000187:drug effects; D010362:Patients' Rooms; D015742:Propofol / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011597:Psychomotor Performance / Q000187:drug effects; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012121:Respiration, Artificial; D016037:Single-Blind Method; D013997:Time Factors; D014851:Wakefulness / Q000187:drug effects
chemical_list: D006993:Hypnotics and Sedatives; D008874:Midazolam; D015742:Propofol