title: Sedation of the mechanically ventilated patient.
abstract: Goals in the care of the mechanically ventilated patient are sedation, analgesia, anxiolysis, and muscle relaxation. Causes of distress in these patients include: pain, sleep deprivation, anxiety, psychosis, agitation, and delirium. Drugs used to alleviate these stressors are opiates, benzodiazepines, neuromuscular blocking agents, anesthetic induction agents, and inhalational agents. When caring for the agitated patient on the mechanical ventilator, physiologic, mechanical, and emotional causes must all be investigated. Finally, nonpharmacologic therapy is of utmost importance in the care of these patients.
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Pulmonary/Critical Care, University of Missouri-Kansas City School of Medicine, USA.
authors.forename: M B
authors.initials: MB
authors.lastname: Yagan
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: White
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Staab
mesh_terms: D000701:Analgesics, Opioid / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000777:Anesthetics / Q000627:therapeutic use; D014151:Anti-Anxiety Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001569:Benzodiazepines; D003422:Critical Care; D006801:Humans; D006993:Hypnotics and Sedatives / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D009466:Neuromuscular Blocking Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D011595:Psychomotor Agitation / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000451:nursing; D012121:Respiration, Artificial / Q000451:nursing
chemical_list: D000701:Analgesics, Opioid; D000777:Anesthetics; D014151:Anti-Anxiety Agents; D006993:Hypnotics and Sedatives; D009466:Neuromuscular Blocking Agents; D001569:Benzodiazepines