title: Sedation with sufentanil in patients receiving pressure support ventilation has no effects on respiration: a pilot study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the effects of sedation with sufentanil on respiratory drive, respiratory pattern, and gas exchange of critically ill patients during pressure support ventilation.
  
  
  METHODS
  In this prospective observational cohort study, we observed 12 adult patients receiving partial ventilatory support for acute respiratory failure. Each subject received a continuous infusion of sufentanil at 0.2 to 0.3 micro g x kg(-1) x hr(-1) to obtain a modified Ramsay sedation score between 2 and 3. In basal conditions and at variable distance from the beginning of the sufentanil infusion (10', 30', 60', 120', 24 hr) we evaluated gas exchange, hemodynamic variables, respiratory rate (RR), tidal volume (TV), respiratory pattern, respiratory drive (P0.1) and inspiratory impedance of the respiratory system [P0.1/TV/inspiratory time (Ti)].
  
  
  RESULTS
  The continuous iv administration of 0.2 to 0.3 micro g x kg(-1) x hr(-1) of sufentanil resulted in the desired level of sedation. No significant heart rate, heart rhythm and blood pressure changes were observed. Sufentanil infusion did not affect TV, minute volume, Ti/inspiratory duty cycle, RR, P0.1, P0.1/TV/Ti and gas exchange did not change significantly over the study period.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  A continuous infusion of sufentanil induces "awake" sedation with no detectable effects on respiratory variables in critically ill patients during partial ventilatory support.
authors.affiliation: Department of Anesthesia and Intensive Care, Università Cattolica del S. Cuore, Policlinico A. Gemelli, Rome, Italy. g.conti@rm.unicatt.it
authors.forename: Giorgio
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Conti
authors.forename: Andrea
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Arcangeli
authors.forename: Massimo
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Antonelli
authors.forename: Franco
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Cavaliere
authors.forename: Roberta
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Costa
authors.forename: Francesca
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Simeoni
authors.forename: Rodolfo
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Proietti
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000403:Airway Resistance / Q000187:drug effects; D018686:Anesthetics, Intravenous; D005260:Female; D006439:Hemodynamics / Q000187:drug effects; D006801:Humans; D007385:Intermittent Positive-Pressure Ventilation; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010865:Pilot Projects; D011659:Pulmonary Gas Exchange / Q000187:drug effects; D012131:Respiratory Insufficiency / Q000628:therapy; D015656:Respiratory Mechanics / Q000187:drug effects*; D017409:Sufentanil; D013990:Tidal Volume / Q000187:drug effects
chemical_list: D018686:Anesthetics, Intravenous; D017409:Sufentanil