title: Management of Sedation and Paralysis.
abstract: Sedatives are administered to decrease patient discomfort and agitation during mechanical ventilation and to maintain patient-ventilator synchrony. Titration of infusions and or bolus dosing to maintain light sedation goals according to validated scales is recommended. However, it is important to consider deeper sedation for patients with refractory patient-ventilator dyssynchrony (PVD) to prevent volutrauma and barotrauma. Deep sedation plus muscle relaxants may be required to treat PVD or to reduce oxygen consumption and carbon dioxide production. Although minimization and protocolization of sedation in the intensive care unit improves costs and outcomes, it is important to consider goals on an individual basis.
authors.affiliation: Duke University Medical Center, DUMC Box 3094, Durham, NC 27710, USA. Electronic address: Michael.Fierro@dm.duke.edu.
authors.forename: Michael A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Fierro
authors.affiliation: Duke University Medical Center, DUMC Box 3094, Durham, NC 27710, USA.
authors.forename: Raquel R
authors.initials: RR
authors.lastname: Bartz
mesh_terms: D006801:Humans; D006993:Hypnotics and Sedatives / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D007362:Intensive Care Units; D010243:Paralysis / Q000652:urine*; D012121:Respiration, Artificial / Q000379:methods*
chemical_list: D006993:Hypnotics and Sedatives
keywords: Mechanical ventilation; Paralysis; Patient ventilator dyssynchrony (PVD); Sedation