title: [Sedative practice in intensive care units results of a Maghrebian survey].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  sedation is central to the management of intensive care patients. The aim of this study was to establish the current sedation practice in Maghrebian intensive care units (ICUs). The use of sedation policies with or without a written protocol, the use of scoring systems, the influence of costs on drug choice, the most common drugs for sedation and the use of neuromuscular blocking agents.
  
  
  METHODS
  a self-administered questionnaire composed of 20 items was sent to 138 intensivists in the Maghreb working in 25 teaching hospitals and 16 private clinics.
  
  
  RESULTS
  50 of 138 questionnaires were returned (response rate = 36.2%). Midazolam and Fentanyl were the main sedative agents used (respectively 98% and 87%) less than 14% of the ICUs used the Propofol mainly in the first 48 hours. A sedation policy was adopted in 63.6% with a written protocol in 20% of cases. Sedation scoring systems were noted in 14.3% of cases (RAMSAY scale in 100%). Economic aspect was important for 64.6% of ICUs.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  sedation may seem secondary in the initial management of intensive care patients, only 63% of our respondents had a sedation policy and 20% a written protocol though its use is thought to improve outcome and reduce costs. Economic aspect was important for the choice of the drug to use (64%), this may explain the preferential use of Midazolam 98% in association with an analgesic (Fentanyl: 85%) while Propofol is used only in 14% though pharmacoeconomic studies may be in fact in favor of the latter. Neuromuscular blocking agents are less frequently used (16%) mainly because of the risk of complications.
authors.affiliation: Service d'anesthésie réanimation, CHU Mongi Slim, La Marsa.
authors.forename: Souissi
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Kamel
authors.forename: Mestiri
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Tahar
authors.forename: Frikha
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Nabil
authors.forename: Rekik
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Mohamed
authors.forename: Mebazaa
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Mhamed Sami
authors.forename: Salah Ben Ammar
authors.initials: SB
authors.lastname: Mohamed
mesh_terms: D000700:Analgesics / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000191:economics; D000758:Anesthesia; D000777:Anesthetics / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000191:economics; D018686:Anesthetics, Intravenous / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000191:economics; D003422:Critical Care / Q000191:economics / Q000458:organization & administration; D016527:Drug Costs; D005283:Fentanyl / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000191:economics; D006784:Hospitals, Teaching / Q000191:economics / Q000458:organization & administration; D006801:Humans; D006993:Hypnotics and Sedatives / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000191:economics; D007362:Intensive Care Units / Q000191:economics / Q000458:organization & administration; D008874:Midazolam / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000191:economics; D009466:Neuromuscular Blocking Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000191:economics; D016134:Organizational Policy; D010818:Practice Patterns, Physicians'; D011331:Private Practice / Q000191:economics / Q000458:organization & administration; D015742:Propofol / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000191:economics; D014416:Tunisia
chemical_list: D000700:Analgesics; D000777:Anesthetics; D018686:Anesthetics, Intravenous; D006993:Hypnotics and Sedatives; D009466:Neuromuscular Blocking Agents; D008874:Midazolam; D005283:Fentanyl; D015742:Propofol