Richmond Agitation-Sedation Scale Score Research Articles

Long-term sedation with remimazolam besylate versus propofol in critically ill patients during invasive mechanical ventilation: a study protocol for a multicenter randomized non-inferior trial.

Background: Remimazolam besylate is a novel ultra-short-acting benzodiazepine that can potentially be a safe and effective sedative in intensive care units. This study aims to assess whether remimazolam besylate is not inferior to propofol in maintaining mild-to-moderate sedation in critically ill patients receiving long-term mechanical ventilation. Methods and analysis: This is a multicenter, randomized, single-blind, propofol-controlled, non-inferiority study. Eligible patients are randomly assigned to receive remimazolam besylate or propofol in a 1:1 ratio to maintain a Richmond Agitation-Sedation Scale score between -3 and 0. When patients are under-sedated, rescue sedation of dexmedetomidine is added. The primary outcome is the percentage of time in the target sedation range. The secondary outcomes are hours free from the invasive ventilator in 7days, successful extubation in 7days, and weaning time, the length of intensive care unit stay, the length of hospital stay, and mortality in 28days. Modified intention-to-treat and safety analysis is performed. Clinical trial registration number: https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT05555667.

Ideal Anesthetic Agent for Cardiac Electrophysiology Study and Catheter Ablation – A Pilot Study

Objectives: Patients suffering from supraventricular tachycardia (SVT) require diagnostic or therapeutic intervention in a cardiac electrophysiology (EP) laboratory. Some anesthetic medications may adversely affect cardiac EP and conduction, altering the ability to induce the arrhythmia, and may have a negative impact on the ablation treatment. This prospective, randomized, pilot study was conducted in the cardiac EP laboratory of a tertiary care hospital with the aim to identify the ideal anesthetic agent for cardiac EP study and catheter ablation of SVT. The primary objective was to compare the effects of anesthetic agents on cardiac electrophysiological parameters and arrhythmia inducibility. The secondary objective was to compare the patient, anesthesiologist, and cardiologist satisfaction scores with respect to the anesthetic agent used. Materials and Methods: Thirty adult patients with SVT for EP study and radiofrequency catheter ablation were administered either of the anesthetic agents: midazolam, fentanyl, propofol, ketamine, or sevoflurane titrated to produce conscious sedation corresponding to bispectral index (BIS) values between 71 and 90. Electrophysiological parameters were recorded before and after administering the anesthetic agent. Results: Arrhythmia could be induced in all patients. Although electrophysiological parameters remained stable with ketamine administration; higher values of the Richmond Agitation Sedation Scale score and BIS were recorded. Propofol and sevoflurane administration was associated with deviation in electrophysiological parameters more than fentanyl and midazolam. The highest values of patient, anesthesiologist, and cardiologist satisfaction scores were obtained in the fentanyl group and the lowest in the ketamine group (P < 0.002). Conclusion: In doses used to provide conscious sedation, fentanyl provided ideal conditions, and midazolam, propofol, sevoflurane, and ketamine provided satisfactory conditions for conducting EP study and catheter ablation for supraventricular tachyarrhythmias. The potential of propofol to impede cardiac conduction needs to be explored further.

Comparison of propofol vs. remimazolam on emergence profiles after general anesthesia: A randomized clinical trial

Study objectiveThe emergence profiles in patients undergoing total intravenous anesthesia with either propofol or remimazolam with flumazenil reversal were compared. DesignA prospective, double-blind, randomized trial. SettingAn operating room and a post-anesthesia care unit (PACU). PatientsAdult patients (n = 100) having American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) physical status of I-III undergoing general anesthesia were enrolled and randomly assigned to the propofol or the remimazolam group. InterventionsThe propofol group received target-controlled infusion of propofol, and the remimazolam group received continuous infusion of remimazolam. Continuous infusion of remifentanil was used in both groups. For emergence, flumazenil was used in increments of 0.2 mg in the remimazolam group. MeasurementsThe primary outcome was the time required for the patient to obey verbal commands. The secondary outcomes included the time to bispectral index (BIS) over 80, the time to laryngeal mask airway (LMA) removal, the Richmond Agitation-Sedation Scale (RASS) scores in the PACU, and adverse events throughout the study period. Main resultsThe time taken to obey verbal commands was significantly longer in the propofol group than the remimazolam group (14 [9, 19]) vs. 5 [3, 7]) minutes, P < 0.001; median difference -9, 95% confidence interval -11 to -6). The times to BIS over 80 and to LMA removal were also significantly longer in the propofol group. In addition, the RASS score upon arrival to the PACU differed significantly between the two groups (P = 0.006). Re-sedation in the PACU was observed in 11 (22%) of the patients in the remimazolam group. ConclusionsRemimazolam-based total intravenous anesthesia with flumazenil reversal may be effective in reducing emergence time, but a significant incidence of re-sedation was observed in the PACU. Further studies are needed to determine adequate dose and timing of routine flumazenil use and minimize the risk of re-sedation.

EEG response of dexmedetomidine during drug induced sleep endoscopy.

Dexmedetomidine is one of the anesthetics of choice for drug induced sleep endoscopy (DISE), with advantages including limited respiratory depression, analgesia, and decreased incidence of emergence delirium. However, challenges with determining sedation levels and prolonged recovery have limited its usage. An improved understanding of the effect of dexmedetomidine on the level of sedation and the corresponding electroencephalographic (EEG) changes could help overcome these barriers. Fifty-one patients received dexmedetomidine sedation with Richmond Agitation-Sedation Scale (RASS) score assessment and continuous EEG monitoring via SedLine for DISE. We constructed a pharmacokinetic model to determine continuous dexmedetomidine blood concentration. From the SedLine, we extracted the patient state index (PSI), and from the EEG we calculated the spectral edge frequency 95% (SEF95) and the correlation dimension (CD), a type of fractal dimension used to assess the complexity of a system. These metrics were subsequently compared against one another and with the dexmedetomidine concentration. Our pharmacokinetic model yielded a two-compartment model with volumes of 51.8 L and 106.2 L, with clearances of 69.5 and 168.9 L/h, respectively, and a time to effect of 9 min, similar to prior studies. Based on this model, decreasing RASS score, SEF95, CD, and PSI were all significantly associated with increasing dexmedetomidine concentration (p < 0.001, p = 0.006, p < 0.001 respectively). The CD, SEF95, and PSI better captured the effects of increasing dexmedetomidine concentration as compared to the RASS score. Simulating dexmedetomidine concentration based on titration to target levels derived from CD and PSI confirmed commonly used dexmedetomidine infusion dosages. Dexmedetomidine use for DISE confirmed previous pharmacokinetic models seen with dexmedetomidine. Complex EEG metrics such as PSI and CD, as compared to RASS score and SEF95, better captured changes in brain state from dexmedetomidine and have potential to improve the monitoring of dexmedetomidine sedation.

Effect of perioperative application of dexmedetomidine on post-operative stress reaction, pain and prognostic adverse effects in patients undergoing gynaecological laparoscopy.

The aim of this study was to analyse the effect of perioperative dexmedetomidine (DEX) application on stress response, post-operative pain and prognosis in patients undergoing gynaecologic laparoscopy. One hundred and sixty-eight patients admitted for gynaecologic laparoscopic surgery from May 2020 to November 2022 were included in the study. The patients were randomly divided into pre-operative DEX group (n = 56), intraoperative DEX group (n = 56) and post-operative DEX group (n = 56) according to the application of DEX in the perioperative period. The visual analogue scale (VAS), time awake, extubation time, pneumoperitoneum time, post-anaesthesia care unit (PACU) stay time and Richmond agitation-sedation scale score (RASS) were recorded. Patients in both the pre-operative and intraoperative DEX groups had substantially shorter wakeup and extubation times than those in the post-operative DEX group. Patients in the pre-operative DEX group had considerably shorter wakeup and extubation times than those in the intraoperative DEX group, and their pneumoperitoneum time was significantly shorter than that of the post-operative DEX group (P < 0.001). The RASS scores of the pre-operative DEX group and intraoperative DEX group were significantly lower than those of the post-operative DEX group at 1 h, 6 h and 12 h after surgery. Meanwhile, at all time periods, the RASS scores of patients in the pre-operative DEX group were considerably lower than those in the intraoperative DEX group (P < 0.01). The VAS scores of patients in the pre-operative DEX group and intraoperative DEX group were evidently lower than those in the post-operative DEX group at 0.5 h, 2 h and 12 h postoperatively, and the VAS scores of patients in the pre-operative DEX group were markedly lower than those in the intraoperative DEX group (P < 0.001). The incidence of nausea and vomiting was significantly lower in the pre-operative DEX group than in the intraoperative DEX group and the post-operative DEX group at 0-2 h, >2-12 h and >12-24 h postoperatively (P < 0.001). The incidence of nausea and vomiting in the intraoperative DEX group was significantly lower than that in the post-operative DEX group from 0 to 2 h after surgery (P < 0.05). The incidence of adverse reactions was not significantly different amongst the three groups of patients (P > 0.05). Pre-operative and intraoperative application of DEX can help reduce post-operative pain and stress responses, help patients recover quickly after surgery and improve patient prognosis, especially the pre-operative application of DEX.

Effect of Midazolam on the Incidence of Agitation in Patients Undergoing Electroconvulsive Therapy: A Randomized Clinical Trial

Objectives Electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) is one of the treatment methods for neuropsychiatric patients. Midazolam is a relatively short-acting benzodiazepine drug used as a pre-anesthetic drug and has sedative, anticonvulsant, and muscle relaxant effects. This study aims to investigate the effect of midazolam on agitation in patients undergoing ECT. Methods This double-blinded clinical trial was conducted on 80 patients (aged 18-75 years) diagnosed with psychotic disorders indicating the need for ECT. The patients were selected by a convenience sampling method and allocated to two placebo and intervention groups by the envelope method. In the control group, the patients were injected with 2cc of distilled water, 2 mg/kg nesdonal, 0.5 mg/kg atropine, and 0.5 mg/kg succinylcholine. In the intervention group, in addition to these drugs, 0.2 mg/kg midazolam was injected at 4 sessions. The Richmond agitation sedation scale (RASS) was used to assess agitation immediately and one hour after ECT. Data were analyzed in SPSS software, version using independent t-test, Man-Whitney U test, and chi square test. The significance level was set at 0.05. Results The data of 42 patients in the intervention group and 38 in the control group were analyzed. The mean systolic and diastolic blood pressures were significantly lower in the intervention group. Immediately after ECT, 68% and 44% of patients in the intervention and control groups, respectively, were alert and calm. The patients in the midazolam group had a better condition based on the RASS score one hour after ECT (P=0.04). Conclusion Midazolam is able to reduce agitation in patients receiving ECT and can control the changes in systolic and diastolic blood pressures in the long term.

Phenobarbital versus benzodiazepines in alcohol withdrawal syndrome.

Phenobarbital, a long-acting barbiturate, presents an alternative to conventional benzodiazepine treatment for alcohol withdrawal syndrome (AWS). Currently, existing research offers only modest guidance on the safety and effectiveness of phenobarbital in managing AWS in hospital settings. The study objective was to assess if a phenobarbital protocol for the treatment of AWS reduces respiratory complications when compared to a more traditionally used benzodiazepine protocol. A retrospective cohort study analyzing adults who received either phenobarbital or benzodiazepine-based treatment for AWS over a 4-year period, 2015-2019, in a community teaching hospital in a large academic medical system. A total of 147 patient encounters were included (76 phenobarbital and 71 benzodiazepine). Phenobarbital was associated with a significantly decreased risk of respiratory complications, defined by the occurrence of intubation (15/76 phenobarbital [20%] vs. 36/71 benzodiazepine [51%]) and decreased incidence of the requirement of six or greater liters of oxygen when compared with benzodiazepines (10/76 [13%] vs. 28/71 [39%]). There was a significantly higher incidence of pneumonia in benzodiazepine patients (15/76 [20%] vs. 33/71 [47%]). Mode Richmond Agitation Sedation Scale (RASS) scores were more frequently at goal (0 to -1) between 9 and 48 h after the loading dose of study medication for phenobarbital patients. Median hospital and ICU length of stay were significantly shorter for phenobarbital patients when compared with benzodiazepine patients (5 vs. 10 days and 2 vs. 4 days, respectively). Parenteral phenobarbital loading doses with an oral phenobarbital tapered protocol for AWS resulted in decreased risk of respiratory complications when compared to standard treatment with benzodiazepines.

Second-Generation Parenteral Antipsychotic (Olanzapine) as a First-Line Treatment for Acute Undifferentiated Agitation in the Emergency Department in Comparison With Haloperidol.

Background Acutely agitated patients are common in the emergency department (ED). Given the myriad aetiologies of the clinical conditions that can produce agitation, such a high prevalence is unsurprising. Agitation is a symptomatic presentation, not a diagnosis, secondary to a psychiatric, medical, traumatic, or toxicological condition. Most literature on the emergency management of agitated patients is from psychiatric populations, not generalised to EDs. Benzodiazepines, antipsychotics, and ketamine have been used to treat acute agitation. However, a clear consensus is lacking. Objectives The objectives are to study the effectiveness of intramuscular (IM) olanzapine as a first-line treatment for rapid tranquillisation in undifferentiated acute agitation in the ED and compare the effectiveness of sedatives to control agitation in etiologically divided groups per the following preassigned protocols: Group A: Alcohol/drug intoxication (olanzapine vs haloperidol), Group B: Traumatic brain injury (TBI) with or without alcohol intoxication (olanzapine vs haloperidol), Group C: Psychiatric conditions (olanzapine vs haloperidol and lorazepam), and Group D: Agitated delirium, organic causes (olanzapine vs haloperidol). Methods This 18-month prospective study included acutely agitated ED patients between 18 and 65. Results A total of 87 patients between 19 and 65 were included, all with a Richmond Agitation Sedation Scale (RASS) score between +2 and +4 at presentation. Nineteen of the 87 patients were managed as acute undifferentiated agitation, and 68 were assigned to one of the four groups. In acute undifferentiated agitation, IM olanzapine 10mg effectively sedated 15 (78.9%) patients within 20 minutes, whereas the remaining four (21.1%) were sedated with a repeat IM olanzapine 10mg over the next 25minutes. In 13 patients with agitation due to alcohol intoxication, zero out of three with olanzapine and four out of 10 (40%) with IM haloperidol 5mg were sedated within 20 minutes. In patients with TBI, two out of eight (25%) receiving olanzapine and four out of nine (44.4%) receiving haloperidol were sedated within 20minutes. In acute agitation secondary to psychiatric disease, olanzapine sedated nine out of 10 (90%), and haloperidol with lorazepam sedated 16 out of 17 (94.1%) within 20minutes. In patients with agitation secondary to organic medical conditions, olanzapine rapidly sedated 19 out of 24 (79.1%), whereas haloperidol sedated one out of four (25%). Interpretation and conclusion IM olanzapine 10mg is effective for rapid sedation in acute undifferentiated agitation. Olanzapine is superior to haloperidol in agitation secondary to organic medical conditions and is as efficacious as haloperidol with lorazepam in agitation due to psychiatric diseases. However, in agitation due to alcohol intoxication and TBI, haloperidol 5mg is slightly better, although not statistically significant. Olanzapine and haloperidol were well tolerated by Indian patients in the current study, with minimal side effects.

Postoperative sodium concentrations after cardiac surgery using histidine- tryptophan-ketoglutarate cardioplegia and cardiopulmonary bypass – a retrospective study

Introduction: Histidine-tryptophan-ketoglutarate (HTK) cardioplegia is used to induce cardiac arrest during cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) in cardiac surgery. HTK cardioplegia is hyponatremic (15 mmol/L) and slightly hyperosmolar (310 mOsm/kg) and can induce hyponatremia when it enters systemic circulation. The purpose of this study is to investigate the effect of HTK cardioplegia, cannulation strategy and intraoperative correction of sodium levels on postoperative sodium concentration. Secondly, the effect of the sodium concentrations on postoperative agitation is evaluated. Methods: Patients who underwent cardiac surgery using CPB and HTK cardioplegia were included in this retrospective study. Sodium concentrations of arterial blood gases (ABG) and laboratory blood samples were analyzed at multiple points in time. It was recorded if the perfusionist corrected intraoperative hyponatremia with hypertonic saline or sodium bicarbonate 8.4%. Characteristics of the patients, intraoperative data and the patient’s Richmond Agitation-Sedation Scale (RASS) score were collected. Results: The median sodium concentration on ABG [IQR] decreased from 139 mmol/L [138-140] to 125.5 mmol/L [122-130] (p &lt; 0.001) after the administration of HTK cardioplegia. The median sodium concentration after the administration of HTK cardioplegia was significantly lower in the group with single cannulation than with double cannulation (123 mmol/L [121-125] vs. 130 mmol/L [128-133]; p&lt;0.001). The median sodium concentration increased to 134 mmol/L [133-136] (p=0.007) at T6. There was no significant difference in postoperative sodium concentration between patients who received correction intraoperatively and those who did not, or between patients who had agitation and those who had not. Conclusions: The administration of HTK cardioplegia induced acute hyponatremia during cardiac surgery mainly in patients with single venous cannulation. Postoperatively, a normalization of sodium concentrations can be observed. No difference in postoperative sodium concentration was observed with or without intraoperative correction of sodium. Intraoperative correction of hyponatremia shows no benefit or harm on postoperative sodium concentrations. Hyponatremia could be avoided or at least diminished by using double venous cannulation.

Intravenous Midazolam for Anxiolysis in MRI

ObjectiveThe purpose of this project was to understand the effect of administration of intravenous (IV) midazolam on duration of procedure times and anxiety levels experienced by adult outpatients having magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Secondarily, this project sought to compare duration of procedure times and anxiety scores of adult outpatients receiving intravenous lorazepam or intravenous diazepam for MRI-associated anxiety. MethodsAll adult outpatients scheduled for MRI over the course of 12 months were assessed for self-reported anxiety and offered anxiolytic administration. In this group, 116 adult outpatients received a benzodiazepine, 50 patients received midazolam, 35 received lorazepam, and 31 received diazepam. Patients rated their anxiety as zero (none), 1 (mild), 2 (moderate), or 3 (severe). Nurses rated the level of patient sedation using the Richmond Agitation Sedation Scale (RASS), a 10-point scale rating patients from combative (+4) to unarousable (−5). These scores were recorded upon arrival to MRI, following medication administration at the start of the MRI, and at the completion of the MRI. Duration of procedure times were measured as the time from anxiolytic administration to the time of MRI completion. ResultsUpon arrival to MRI, the average patient-reported anxiety levels for midazolam, lorazepam, and diazepam were 2.3 ± 0.6, 2.3 ± 0.7, and 2.3 ± 0.6; RASS scores were 0.8 ± 0.5, 0.7 ± 0.7, and 1 ± 0.7. Following benzodiazepine administration at the beginning of the MRI, the average patient-reported anxiety levels for midazolam, lorazepam, and diazepam were 1.4 ± 0.9, 1.5 ± 0.8, and 0.9 ± 0.6; RASS scores were −0.04 ± 0.7, 0.02 ± 0.8, and 0.1 ± 0.6. Patient-reported anxiety levels for midazolam, lorazepam, and diazepam following the MRI were 0.2 ± 0.6, 0.6 ± 0.7, and 0.03 ± 0.1; RASS scores were −0.1 ± 0.4, −0.2 ± 0.6, and −0.2 ± 0.4.Duration of procedure times for midazolam, lorazepam, and diazepam were 42.5 ± 28.9, 55.6 ± 19.8, and 49 ± 19 minutes. Vital signs decreased slightly after administration of all 3 drugs; however, not one adverse or over sedation event occurred. ConclusionIntravenous midazolam appears to be a safe and effective anxiolytic for adult outpatients in MRI. Patient anxiety scores and nursing assessed level of sedation scores were comparable to those taking IV lorazepam or IV diazepam. Duration of procedure times were also comparable to those receiving IV lorazepam or IV diazepam.

Characteristics of delirium and its association with sedation and in-hospital mortality in patients with COVID-19 on veno-venous extracorporeal membrane oxygenation.

Veno-venous extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (VV-ECMO) has been used in patients with COVID-19 acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS). We aim to assess the characteristics of delirium and describe its association with sedation and in-hospital mortality. We retrospectively reviewed adult patients on VV-ECMO for severe COVID-19 ARDS in the Johns Hopkins Hospital ECMO registry in 2020-2021. Delirium was assessed by the Confusion Assessment Method for the ICU (CAM-ICU) when patients scored-3 or above on the Richmond Agitation-Sedation Scale (RASS). Primary outcomes were delirium prevalence and duration in the proportion of days on VV-ECMO. Of 47 patients (median age = 51), 6 were in a persistent coma and 40 of the remaining 41 patients (98%) had ICU delirium. Delirium in the survivors (n = 21) and non-survivors (n = 26) was first detected at a similar time point (VV-ECMO day 9.5(5,14) vs. 8.5(5,21), p = 0.56) with similar total delirium days on VV-ECMO (9.5[3.3, 16.8] vs. 9.0[4.3, 28.3] days, p = 0.43). Non-survivors had numerically lower RASS scores on VV-ECMO days (-3.72[-4.42, -2.96] vs. -3.10[-3.91, -2.21], p = 0.06) and significantly prolonged delirium-unassessable days on VV-ECMO with a RASS of -4/-5 (23.0[16.3, 38.3] vs. 17.0(6,23), p = 0.03), and total VV-ECMO days (44.5[20.5, 74.3] vs. 27.0[21, 38], p = 0.04). The proportion of delirium-present days correlated with RASS (r = 0.64, p < 0.001), the proportions of days on VV-ECMO with a neuromuscular blocker (r = -0.59, p = 0.001), and with delirium-unassessable exams (r = -0.69, p < 0.001) but not with overall ECMO duration (r = 0.01, p = 0.96). The average daily dosage of delirium-related medications on ECMO days did not differ significantly. On an exploratory multivariable logistic regression, the proportion of delirium days was not associated with mortality. Longer duration of delirium was associated with lighter sedation and shorter paralysis, but it did not discern in-hospital mortality. Future studies should evaluate analgosedation and paralytic strategies to optimize delirium, sedation level, and outcomes.

Anesthetic Management and Deep Sedation After Emergence From General Anesthesia: A Retrospective Cohort Study.

Residual deep sedation during anesthesia recovery may predict postoperative complications. We examined the incidence and risk factors for deep sedation after general anesthesia. We retrospectively reviewed health records of adults who underwent procedures with general anesthesia and were admitted to the postanesthesia care unit from May 2018 to December 2020. Patients were dichotomized by Richmond Agitation-Sedation Scale (RASS) score: ≤-4 (deeply sedated/unarousable) or ≥-3 (not deeply sedated). Anesthesia risk factors for deep sedation were assessed with multivariable logistic regression. Of the 56,275 patients included, 2003 had a RASS ≤-4 (35.6 [95% CI, 34.1-37.2] cases per 1000 anesthetics administered). On adjusted analyses, the likelihood of a RASS ≤-4 increased when more soluble halogenated anesthetics were used. Compared with desflurane without propofol, the odds ratio (OR [95% CI]) for a RASS ≤-4 was higher with sevoflurane (1.85 [1.45-2.37]) and isoflurane (4.21 [3.29-5.38]) without propofol. Compared with desflurane without propofol, the odds of a RASS ≤-4 further increased with use of desflurane-propofol (2.61 [1.99-3.42]), sevoflurane-propofol (4.20 [3.28-5.39]), isoflurane-propofol (6.39 [4.90-8.34]), and total intravenous anesthesia (2.98 [2.22-3.98]). A RASS ≤-4 was also more likely with the use of dexmedetomidine (2.47 [2.10-2.89]), gabapentinoids (2.17 [1.90-2.48]), and midazolam (1.34 [1.21-1.49]). Deeply sedated patients discharged to general care wards had higher odds of opioid-induced respiratory complications (2.59 [1.32-5.10]) and higher odds of naloxone administration (2.93 [1.42-6.03]). Likelihood of deep sedation after recovery increased with intraoperative use of halogenated agents with higher solubility and increased further when propofol was concomitantly used. Patients who experience deep sedation during anesthesia recovery have an increased risk of opioid-induced respiratory complications on general care wards. These findings may be useful for tailoring anesthetic management to reduce postoperative oversedation.

A Nomogram for Predicting Physical Restraint of Patients in Intensive Care Unit

Despite its ethical implications, physical restraint (PR) is widely used in the intensive care unit (ICU) to guarantee the safety of patients. This study investigated the frequency and risk factors of PR use for patients in the ICU to establish a predictive nomogram. Clinical parameters of patients admitted to the ICU of Jiangsu Province Hospital from January 2021 to July 2021 were retrospectively collected. Independent risk factors of PR were analyzed by univariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses. The R software was used to establish the nomogram. Model performance was validated using the concordance-index (C-index) and calibration curves. The rate of PR use was 46.32% (233/503 patients). Age (B = 0.036, odds ratio [OR]: 1.037, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.022-1.052, P < 0.001), consciousness disorder (B = 0.770, OR: 2.159, 95% CI: 1.216-3.832, P=0.009), coma (B = -1.666, OR: 0.189, 95% CI: 0.101-0.353, P < 0.001), passive activity (B = 1.014, OR: 2.756, 95% CI: 1.644-4.618, P < 0.001), delirium (B = 0.993, OR: 2.699, 95% CI: 1.097-6.642, P=0.031), -3 < Richmond Agitation Sedation Scale (RASS) score <2 (B = 0.698, OR: 2.009, 95% CI: 1.026-3.935, P=0.042), RASS score ≥2 (B = 1.253, OR: 3.499, 95% CI: 1.126-10.875, P=0.030), and mechanical ventilation (B = 1.696, OR: 5.455, 95% CI: 2.804-10.611, P < 0.001) were identified as independent risk factors for PR in the ICU (P < 0.05) and included in the nomogram. The C-index was 0.830, and the calibration curve indicated good discriminatory ability and accuracy (mean absolute error: 0.026). The prediction nomogram model of PR in ICU was established based on age, mobility, delirium, consciousness, RASS score, and mechanical ventilation. It showed good discrimination and accuracy. This nomogram may predict the probability of PR use in the ICU and guide nurses in developing precise interventions to reduce the rate of PR.

Retrospective evaluation of dexmedetomidine dosing in a cohort of neurologically injured obese critically ill patients.

Dexmedetomidine is used in neurocritical care units (NCCUs) due to the light, dose-dependent sedation, and anxiolysis provided. It is unknown how to dose dexmedetomidine in obese patients. The primary objective is to assess the ability to achieve the goal Richmond Agitation Sedation Scale (RASS) measurements in obese patients with a neurological injury who are solely on dexmedetomidine before and after an institutional dosing change from actual body weight (ABW) to adjusted body weight (AdjBW). This study included patients admitted to the NCCU with a neurological condition, required dexmedetomidine for at least 8 h as a sole sedative, and weighed ≥120% of ideal body weight. Percentage of RASS measurements within the goal range (-1 to +1) during the first 48 h while on dexmedetomidine were compared between patients dosed on ABW and on AdjBW. Sixty-eight patients in the ABW cohort and 72 patients in the AdjBW cohort were included. There were no statistical differences between the two groups (ABW vs. AdjBW) in the percent of RASS measurements in the goal range (53.2% ± 34.8% vs. 55% ± 37%; P = 0.78), mean weight (99.2 ± 26 vs. 96.8 ± 20.9 kg; P = 0.55), or the average dose of dexmedetomidine required to achieve first goal RASS score (0.4 ± 0.3 vs. 0.4 ± 0.3 mcg/kg/h; P = 0.98). Dosing dexmedetomidine using AdjBW in obese critically ill neurologically injured patients for ongoing sedation resulted in no statistical difference in the percent of RASS measurements within the goal when compared to ABW dosing. Further studies are warranted.

Effect of high-flow nasal cannula on patients' recovery after inhalation general anesthesia.

To investigate the effect of high-flow nasal cannula (HFNC) and Oxygen Nebuliser mask (ONM) on patients recovering from inhalation anesthesia. A retrospective analysis was performed on 128 patients after inhalation of general anesthesia in the recovery room of the Anesthesiology Department of The Fourth Hospital of Hebei Medical University from September 2019 to September 2021. All patients received the same anesthesia induction and analgesia methods, inhalation anesthesia or intravenous-inhalation anesthesia maintenance, recovered spontaneous breathing and removed endotracheal intubation after surgery, then were divided into HFNC group and ONM group for oxygen therapy. HFNC setting mode: flow rate: 20-60 L/minutes, humidification temperature: 37°C, the oxygen concentration was adjusted to maintain finger pulse oxygen saturation SPO2>90%; ONM group, the oxygen flow rate was adjusted to maintain finger pulse oxygen saturation SPO2>90%. All patients in the two groups were compared immediately after they entered the recovery room for 0 minutes,, 10 minutes, and 20 minutes,, including tidal volume, blood gas, Richmond Agitation-Sedation Scale (RASS) score and time from sedation to awakening. The changes in tidal volume, oxygenation index and RASS score over time in the HFNC group were higher than those in the ONM group (p<0.05), and the awakening time in the HFNC group was faster than that in the ONM group (p<0.01), with significant statistical differences. Compared with ONM, HFNC can shorten postoperative recovery time, reduce the incidence of agitation and improve lung function and oxygenation state during recovery from anesthesia.

Effect of Dexmedetomidine for Palliative Sedation for Refractory Dyspnoea in Patients with Terminal-Stage Cancer.

Dyspnoea affects a considerable percentage of patients with terminal-stage cancer, and clinical guidelines recommend palliative sedation for patients with refractory dyspnoea. Midazolam is currently the most commonly used sedative; however, it can cause serious adverse reactions, such as respiratory/circulatory depression. Hence, there is a need for an alternative sedative. Dexmedetomidine (DEX) is a promising alternative as its "awake sedation" effect; however, little is known regarding its use in patients with end-stage dyspnoea. Therefore, the aim of this study was to determine the safety and usefulness of DEX for palliative sedation of patients with refractory dyspnoea. This retrospective study included patients with terminal-stage cancer who received DEX for palliative sedation owing to refractory dyspnoea in the hospice ward from January 2018 to October 2022. We analysed their general data, dyspnoea conditions, sedation details, sedative treatment effect, dyspnoea relief, and changes in vital signs before and after sedation, via paired t-tests. We included 17 patients with terminal-stage cancer who received DEX palliative sedation at a dose of 0.2-0.9 µg/kg·h for refractory dyspnoea, among whom 6 (35%) received a loading dose of 1 µg/kg in 10 min. After 1 h of sedation and at the maximum sedation dose, the Respiratory Distress Observation Scale and Richmond Agitation-Sedation Scale scores decreased significantly compared with those before sedation (all P<0.001), as did the respiratory rate (P=0.024 and P=0.008, respectively). The heart rate and blood oxygen saturation did not significantly change, whereas the systolic and diastolic blood pressure after 1 h of sedation were significantly lower than those before sedation (both P=0.015). DEX is a promising palliative sedative for patients with terminal-stage cancer, as it safely relieved the symptoms of refractory dyspnoea without inducing serious adverse reactions. Therefore, DEX may greatly enhance the quality of life for patients with terminal-stage cancer.

Identifying Predictors of Extubation on the day of Passing an SBT in Critically ill Adults.

Many patients who pass a spontaneous awakening trial (SAT) and spontaneous breathing trial (SBT) do not undergo extubation that day. We aimed to identify predictors of extubation on the day of passing an SBT and to develop prediction models for extubation among mechanically ventilated patients. In a cohort of mechanically ventilated patients who had passed an SBT in a single, academic medical intensive care unit (ICU) from 2018 to 2019, we developed a logistic regression model for identifying predictors of extubation. Of 745 patients in our study, 77% were extubated the day they passed a SBT. Independent predictors of extubation included higher Richmond Agitation Sedation Scale (RASS) (-2 compared to -4: odds ratio (OR) 1.83, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.56 to 2.14), receipt of sedation on the day prior (OR 2.12, 95% CI 1.63 to 2.74), absence of diagnosis of sepsis or septic shock (OR 0.77, 95% CI 0.59 to 1), absence of neurological illness (OR 0.59, 95% CI 0.37 to 0.96), indication for intubation of altered mental status, seizure, or agitation (OR 1.67, 95% CI 1.05 to 2.65), and absence of hemodynamic instability or cardiac arrest (OR 0.67, 95% CI 0.47 to 0.95). Patients on mechanical ventilation were more likely to be extubated on the day they passed an SBT if they had higher RASS scores, received sedation the day prior, or did not have diagnosis of sepsis, neurological illness, or hemodynamic instability. Future research should attempt to identify and address modifiable risk factors for failure to extubate after passing an SBT.

Efficacy and safety of ciprofol for agitation and delirium in the ICU: A multicenter, single-blind, 3-arm parallel randomized controlled trial study protocol.

Agitation is very common in the intensive care unit (ICU). The causes include pain, delirium, underlying disease, withdrawal syndrome, and some drug treatments. The practical goal of ICU treatment is to find an appropriate sedation regimen to reduce pain, restlessness, and delirium. Previous trials have examined the use of dexmedetomidine, but no trials have evaluated the efficacy and safety of ciprofol, a new sedative drug. This study was a multicenter, single-blind, 3-arm parallel randomized controlled trial. ICU patients aged ≥ 18 years with agitation and delirium who met the eligibility criteria were included. The main outcome was the proportion of patients who needed additional study medication or midazolam due to agitation within 4 h after the first intravenous injection of the study medication. The secondary outcomes included the pass rate as indicated by a Richmond Agitation-Sedation Scale (RASS) score < +1, the effectiveness rate of improving delirium symptoms, the number of recurrences of agitation within 24 h, the incidence of rescue treatment, the dose and cost of analgesic and sedative drugs, the length and cost of ICU stay, and the 30-day survival period. The safety evaluation included the incidence of adverse events (hypotension, bradycardia, hypoxia, etc.) and the rate of endotracheal intubation. The subjects were randomly assigned to receive ciprofol, dexmedetomidine, or normal saline at a ratio of 1:1:1. The rates of additional drug administration within 4 h after the first injection of the study drug in the three groups were 40, 50, and 90%, respectively. A total sample size of 81 subjects was required to reach 90% power and an α of 0.05. Considering a 20% loss rate, 102 patients were enrolled and randomly assigned to the three groups in equal proportions. This trial was approved by the Ethics Committee of Dalian Municipal Central Hospital. The communication plan includes presentations at scientific conferences, scientific publications, and presentations to the public through non-professional media. www.ClinicalTrials.gov, identifier ChiCTR220006 2799.

The effects of perioperative low-dose magnesium sulfate infusion on postoperative pain in lumbar surgery

This paper aimed at evaluating the effect of low-dose perioperative magnesium sulfate (MgSO4) on postoperative pain in lumbar surgery. Sixty adult patients were included in this randomized controlled double-blind study. After intubation, an infusion of MgSO4 (10 mg/kg/h) and isotonic saline 0.9% (10 mg/kg/h) were administered in groups M and C, respectively. Heart rate and mean arterial pressure were recorded before and during surgery. Serum magnesium levels were recorded before and after the surgery. Perioperative remifentanil consumption and extubation time were recorded. In the post-anesthesia care room (PACU), Agitation-sedation with Richmond Agitation-Sedation Scale (RASS), the pain was evaluated with Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) and recorded at the baseline, at 5th, 10th, 15th and 30th minutes. Patients were transferred to surgical ward with intravenous patient-controlled analgesia (PCA) for postoperative analgesia and received diclofenac sodium for rescue analgesia if VAS &gt;4. Postoperative VAS scores at 2nd, 4th, 6th and 24th hours, opioid consumption after 4 and 24 hours and rescue analgesic consumption for postoperative 24 h were recorded. In the PACU, RASS scores were statistically lower in group M than in group C (p = 0.001), and VAS scores were statistically lower at all measurement times in group M than in group C. In the surgical ward, VAS Scores were statistically lower in Group M at the 6th and 24th hours than in group C (p = 0.015, p = 0.009, respectively). The need for post-operative rescue analgesic was statistically lower in Group M (p &lt; 0.001). The side effect incidence of both groups was similar. Our findings suggest that perioperative low-dose (10 mg/kg/h) MgSO4 infusion reduces early post-op agitation, VAS scores and the need for analgesics up to 24 hours postoperatively. Low dose MgSO4 infusion can be effectively applied for pain management in patients undergoing lumbar surgery.

Evaluation of patient state index, bispectral index, and entropy during drug induced sleep endoscopy with dexmedetomidine.

Multiple electroencephalographic (EEG) monitors and their associated EEG markers have been developed to aid in assessing the level of sedation in the operating room. While many studies have assessed the response of these markers to propofol sedation and anesthetic gases, few studies have compared these markers when using dexmedetomidine, an alpha-2 agonist. Fifty-one patients underwent drug induced sleep endoscopy with dexmedetomidine sedation. Continuous EEG was captured using SedLine (Masimo, Inc), and a playback system was used to extract the bispectral index (BIS) (Medtronic Inc), the patient state index (PSI) (Masimo, Inc), the state and response Entropy (GE Healthcare), and calculate the spectral edge frequency 95% (SEF95). Richmond Agitation-Sedation Scale (RASS) scores were assessed continually throughout the procedure and in recovery. We assessed the correlation between EEG markers and constructed ordinal logistic regression models to predict the RASS score and compare EEG markers. All three commercial EEG metrics were significantly associated with the RASS score (p < 0.001 for all metrics) whereas SEF95 alone was insufficient at characterizing dexmedetomidine sedation. PSI and Entropy achieved higher accuracy at predicing deeper levels of sedation as compared to BIS (PSI: 58.3%, Entropy: 58.3%, BIS: 44.4%). Lightening secondary to RASS score assessment is significantly captured by all three commercial EEG metrics (p < 0.001). Commercial EEG monitors can capture changes in the brain state associated with the RASS score during dexmedetomidine sedation. PSI and Entropy were highly correlated and may be better suited for assessing deeper levels of sedation.