title: Sedation management in the mechanically ventilated critically ill patient.
abstract: Sedation management in the mechanically ventilated critically ill patient is a topic of continuing interest in the critical care literature. The wide variety of clinical practices described in the literature with regard to sedation management has limited the implementation of evidence-based practice guidelines. Common themes for a coherent sedation management strategy include articulation of indications for sedation, initial and daily evaluation of sedation goals, sedation-level assessment, appropriate sedative selection, effective sedation management strategy, and efficient sedation weaning strategy. We provide a summary of the literature on key aspects of sedation in clinical practice. Evidence-based recommendations are provided for clinicians involved in the management of sedation in mechanically ventilated patients.
authors.affiliation: Cardiac Surgical Intensive Care Unit, University of Maryland Medical Center, Baltimore, MD 21201, USA.
authors.forename: Eunice M
authors.initials: EM
authors.lastname: Fuchs
authors.forename: Kathryn
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Von Rueden
mesh_terms: D016638:Critical Illness; D019317:Evidence-Based Medicine; D006801:Humans; D006993:Hypnotics and Sedatives / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D007362:Intensive Care Units; D012121:Respiration, Artificial
chemical_list: D006993:Hypnotics and Sedatives