title: Delirium and sedation.
abstract: Critically ill patients nearing the end of life frequently present with needs for aggressive sedation and analgesia. Optimizing patient comfort while permitting effective communication are challenging goals in this patient population. This article discusses delirium and sedation as it applies to dying patients, and provides recommendations for effective management strategies to optimize the experience of such patients at the end of life.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, Section of Pulmonary and Critical Care, University of Chicago, 5841 South Maryland Avenue, MC 6026, Chicago, IL 60637, USA. jkress@medicine.bsd.uchicago.edu
authors.forename: John P
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Kress
authors.forename: Jesse B
authors.initials: JB
authors.lastname: Hall
mesh_terms: D000465:Algorithms; D000698:Analgesia / Q000379:methods / Q000592:standards; D001007:Anxiety / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control; D002985:Clinical Protocols; D003142:Communication; D016292:Procedural Sedation / Q000379:methods* / Q000523:psychology / Q000592:standards; D003422:Critical Care / Q000379:methods* / Q000523:psychology / Q000592:standards; D003663:Decision Trees; D003693:Delirium / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy*; D016903:Drug Monitoring / Q000379:methods / Q000592:standards; D006040:Goals; D006801:Humans; D009936:Organizational Innovation; D010347:Patient Care Planning / Q000458:organization & administration; D011785:Quality Assurance, Health Care / Q000458:organization & administration; D013727:Terminal Care / Q000379:methods* / Q000523:psychology / Q000592:standards