Standard Sedation Research Articles

A randomized controlled trial investigating the impact of early goal-directed sedation dominated by dexmedetomidine on cerebral oxygen metabolism and inflammatory mediators in patients with severe brain injury.

The aim of this study is to assess the neuroprotective efficacy of early goal-directed sedation (EGDS) primarily governed by dexmedetomidine in patients experiencing severe traumatic brain injury, and to elucidate its potential underlying mechanisms. All participants were randomly allocated into two groups: the experimental group-dexmedetomidine-dominated EGDS group (group D, n = 30) and the control group-the standard propofol sedation group (group P, n = 30). Patients in the experimental group received sedation primarily with dexmedetomidine, while those in the control group received propofol sedation. Subsequently, retrograde catheterization of the internal jugular vein on the affected side was performed, blood gas analysis samples were collected, cerebral oxygen extraction rates were computed, and levels of interleukin 6 (IL-6) and interleukin 1β (IL-1β) were assessed. One-way ANOVA and Chi-square tests were used for statistical analysis. In group D, significant reductions were observed in the duration of ventilator dependency (p < 0.05).Compared to those documented in group P, tracheostomy incidence, and pulmonary infection rates were no different (p > 0.05). On the second, third and the seventh day, the SjvO2 levels in group D exhibited a statistically significant elevation compared to group P, while the CERO2 levels were notably lower in group D than in group P (p < 0.05). The GCS scores of patients in group D was significantly higher than that of the patients in group P and the baseline value on the seventh day and the time of discharge (p < 0.05). Additionally, the IL-6 levels in group D were significantly lower than those in group P and their corresponding baseline levels on the third and seventh days (p < 0.05). The IL-1β levels were no significant difference between the two groups. A predominance of dexmedetomidine in EGDS demonstrates efficacy in reducing the duration of ICU stay and ventilator dependency, enhancing cerebral oxygen metabolism, and attenuating the infiltration of inflammatory factors.

Dexmedetomidine versus propofol for postoperative recovery after cardiac surgery: a historical cohort study.

The impact of postoperative dexmedetomidine sedation on outcomes following cardiac surgery remains controversial. We sought to compare postoperative sedation techniques with dexmedetomidine vs propofol infusions on postoperative recovery outcomes following cardiac surgery to assess whether dexmedetomidine is associated with longer time to achieve recovery milestones. In this historical cohort study, we abstracted the electronic medical records of a convenience sample of cardiac surgery patients either receiving dexmedetomidine (0.5-1.5µg·kg-1·hr-1) or propofol (5-80µg·kg-1·min-1) infusions for postoperative sedation. The study period included time periods where the standard postoperative sedation practice included dexmedetomidine (March 2019-January 2022) or propofol (January 2022-June 2022) infusions. Measured outcomes for both groups included time to tracheal extubation and intensive care unit and hospital length of stay. Two thousand and sixty-five patients receiving dexmedetomidine and 510 patients receiving propofol were included. Postoperative sedation after cardiac surgery with dexmedetomidine was associated with a 1.8-hr longer time to tracheal extubation than propofol (98.3% confidence interval, 1.5 to 2.1; P < 0.001). Dexmedetomidine administration for postoperative sedation in a convenience sample of over 2,000 cardiac surgery patients was associated with a longer time to tracheal extubation than propofol.

SEDATION ASSESSMENT IN MECHANICAL VENTILATED PATIENTS: THE LEVEL OF KNOWLEDGE ASSESSMENT AMONG CRITICAL NURSES IN A PUBLIC TERTIARY CARE HOSPITAL LAHORE

By appropriately evaluating and controlling sedation in patients on mechanical ventilation, nursing problems can be prevented. However, critical care nurses in public tertiary care hospitals with limited training and resources continue to lack certain expertise. Critical care nurses need to assess and manage sedation. Patients are at significant risk from both over and insufficient sedation. Critical care nurses must possess adequate expertise in sedation assessment and management. Objective: The study's objective is to evaluate critical care nurses' knowledge in sedation management for patients on mechanical ventilation at Pakistan's public tertiary care hospitals. Method: A cross-sectional study with a descriptive design was carried out at the public tertiary care hospital in Lahore. Convenience sampling techniques were used to recruit study participants from the critical care unit. Knowledge levels were divided into three categories: poor, fair and good. Data was collected through questionnaires, which were evaluated using descriptive statistical analysis. Results: The result showed that 36% had fair knowledge, just 16% of the nurses had a strong understanding of sedation management, and 48% of the nurses had low knowledge. Conclusion: The study highlighted a significant lack of sedation management knowledge among critical care nurses in public tertiary care hospitals. Addressing these gaps through targeted training and standardized sedation protocols is essential for improving patient safety in critical settings.

Remifentanil Target-controlled Infusion Versus Standard of Care for Conscious Sedation During Ultrasound-guided Transbronchial Needle Aspiration and Biopsy: A Randomized, Prospective, Control Study.

Endobronchial ultrasound-guided transbronchial needle aspiration (EBUS-TBNA) is a minimally invasive procedure that has become an important tool in the diagnosis and staging of mediastinal lymph node lesions in lung cancer. Adequate sedation is an important part of the procedure as it provides patient comfort and potentially increases diagnostic yield. The sedation modality varies among centers and includes moderate sedation/conscious sedation, deep sedation, and general anesthesia. The object of this study will be the evaluation of patient's comfort and level of satisfaction with the involved health care providers (bronchoscopist and anesthesiologist) of remifentanil administration in target-controlled infusion (TCI) for conscious sedation in patients undergoing EBUS‑TBNA, with a prospective randomized study design versus the of standard sedation protocol with midazolam and/or fentanest and/or propofol. This study was carried out at the "Campus Biomedico di Roma" University Hospital between September 2021 and November 2021, with a total number of 30 patients enrolled who met the eligibility criteria, randomly divided into 2 groups: group 1 "REMIFENTANIL TCI" (experimental group) where the patients performed the EBUS-TBNA procedure under conscious sedation with infusion of remifentanil TCI with a target between 3 ng/mL and 6ng/mL and group 2 "STANDARD" (control group) with patients undergoing conscious sedation with the association of midazolam and/or fentanest and/or propofol in refracted boluses based on clinical needs. Complications, safety, and level of satisfaction of the operator, the anesthesiologist, and the patient were evaluated. The results show that sedation with remifentanil in TCI can improve the comfort level of patients, reducing the risks associated with the procedure (lower frequency of oversedations and hypotension), allowing for greater intraprocedural safety. Furthermore, the level of satisfaction of the anesthesiologist and that of the operator appears to be significantly higher in the Remifentanil group. The execution of a mild to moderate sedation with Remifentanil in TCI in patients undergoing EBUS is safe, tolerated, and allows to obtain greater intraprocedural comfort. Further studies and larger and more representative samples are obviously needed to confirm and strengthen the validity of a remifentanil TCI-based sedation in endoscopic diagnostics.

Efficacy and safety of intravenous thiamylal in sedation for colonoscopy in children.

Since a standard sedation protocol for pediatric colonoscopy (CS) has not been established, evidence on optimal sedative agents is needed. This study aimed to evaluate the efficacy and safety of thiamylal in sedation for pediatric CS compared to midazolam. Children from 7 to 16 years of age who underwent CS under sedation with intravenous thiamylal or midazolam at our hospital between June 2010 and March 2024 were included in this retrospective observational study. The primary outcome was the efficacy (success rate of CS without mid-awakening) of the drugs. Meanwhile, the secondary outcomes were the sedation level during CS, procedure time, recovery time, and adverse events related to sedation. Sixty children were included in the study. The success rate of CS without mid-awakening was significantly higher in the thiamylal group (90.6%) than in the midazolam group (64.3%; p = 0.03). The two groups had no significant differences in median sedation depth, procedure time, or recovery time. Adverse events related to sedation in thiamylal group (22%) and midazolam group (25%) were similar. No severe adverse events were reported. Intravenous thiamylal provides effective and safe sedation in children requiring CS, with little or no mid-awakening during the procedure.

Sedation Efficacy of Midazolam in Conjunction with Ketamine and Alfaxalone in Female Laboratory Guinea Pigs (Cavia porcellus).

Guinea pigs have been integral as models used in biomedical research, making significant contributions to nutritional, auditory, immunologic, and hypersensitivity studies, and necessitating the routine need for sedation in laboratory settings. The ketamine-xylazine (KX) combination has been the standard sedation protocol for decades. However, due to the adverse effects and abuse potential of xylazine, this study explores the possibility of substituting xylazine with midazolam and examines the combined use of midazolam with ketamine and alfaxalone in female laboratory guinea pigs. Our findings indicate that KX facilitates the fastest induction and longest duration of sedation compared with other sedatives, including ketamine-midazolam (KM), which, despite its rapid induction, results in significantly shorter sedation durations. KX also ensures a deeper anesthetic depth and greater odds of loss of withdrawal and inguinal reflexes, in contrast to KM and alfaxalone-midazolam (AM), under which only 15% of the animals lost these reflexes. In terms of cardiopulmonary function, KM led to an increased heart rate attributed to elevated sympathetic activity. All 4 sedative protocols lead to respiratory depression, except KM, which causes minimal reduction. Adverse events varied, with 75% of animals experiencing injection site reactions after KX administration and 67% exhibiting regurgitation post-KM administration. No adverse events were reported for the AM combination, suggesting its safer profile. In conclusion, while KX remains the superior protocol for sedation due to its efficiency, reliability, and minimal impact on physiologic parameters, midazolam is not a preferable alternative to replace xylazine. Its increased sympathetic tone, hyperesthesia, and shorter action duration, coupled with a higher potential for adverse events, limit its suitability to combine with ketamine in guinea pig sedation. However, when midazolam is used in conjunction with safer alternatives like alfaxalone, it presents a viable sedation strategy, emphasizing the need for further research into optimizing sedative combinations for laboratory guinea pigs.

Unsedated colonoscopy utilizing virtual reality distraction: a pilot-controlled study.

Sedation increases colonoscopy risks and prolongs recovery time. We examined whether virtual reality (VR) can substitute for sedation. The primary outcome was the overall satisfaction of patients who underwent colonoscopy with VR headset compared with patients who underwent standard sedation. Pain during the procedure, polyp detection rate (PDR), colonoscopy duration, post-colonoscopy adverse events, post-colonoscopy recovery, time-to-return to daily functions, and turnaround time at the endoscopy unit were secondary outcomes. The study was approved by Sheba Medical Center's ethics committee IRB number 21-8177-SMC. Sixty patients were sequentially enrolled in a 1:1 ratio to either standard sedated colonoscopy or VR-unsedated procedure, and all patients signed a written informed consent. 28/30 patients successfully completed the colonoscopy using VR headset. Overall satisfaction score was comparable between the groups. There was no difference between VR and controls in colonoscopy duration, or PDR. VR patients had numerically lower rate of post-colonoscopy adverse events than controls. The proportion of VR patients who reported resuming daily activities on the day of the procedure was significantly higher than in the control group. The VR group patients spent significantly less time in the hospital compared to the control group. VR technology can provide adequate substitution for sedation for most patients undergoing colonoscopy and offers comparable patient satisfaction and faster return to daily activities.

Influence of audiovisual distraction on the feeling of stress, analgesic sedation and patient satisfaction during electrophysiological ablation procedures on the heart

Abstract Background Distraction using audiovisual stimuli has mostly been researched in a paediatric population with the results showing an inhibiting effect on stress and anxiety as well as the subjective perception of pain. Purpose We designed a study to test if audiovisual distraction may reduce the level of sedatives and analgesics by reducing anxiety and stress during electrophysiological intervention (EP). Methods We conducted a clinical intervention pilot study that was carried out in a randomized controlled manner. Consecutive 70 patients undergoing EP with subsequent ablation were randomized 1:1 to control (CTL) or intervention group (AVD). In addition to standardized sedation, all patients in AVD group received audiovisual glasses. Feeling of fear and stress was assessed through blood pressure changes. The patient satisfaction was assessed with Client Satisfaction Questionnaire, ZUF-8. Numeric scale (NRS) was used to quantify the perceived pain during the procedure. The difference between the subjective estimated duration of the procedure and the actual duration of the procedure was compared. Results The study included predominantly male patients (58.6%) with a mean age of 56 years. Technical aptitude was well balanced between both groups with the majority of patients in both groups owning a smartphone or a tablet (86.1% vs 85.7% for CTL and AVD respectively, p=0.92), and majority of patients in both groups using a computer, laptop or tablet on a weekly basis (58% vs 57.1% for CTL and AVD group respectively, p=0.97). The baseline feelings of anxiety were well balanced within both groups (Figure 1). Our analysis revealed no significant difference between the mean blood pressure values of the CTL and AVD groups (systolic: 135 vs. 141 mmHg; p = 0.32; diastolic: 74 vs. 72 mmHg; p = 0.45). Patient satisfaction score was comparable in both groups (26.5 vs. 26.8 points, p = 0.36). Average response for perceived pain using NRS scale as well as perceived procedure duration was similar between the groups (Figure 2). AVD group required a lower dose of Midazolam than CTL group (0.005 mg/kg/h vs 0.007 mg/kg/h, p = 0.07). Majority of patients (31.4%) in AVD group stated: "The audiovisual glasses made me feel distracted at times." 10% of the AVD patients stated: "The audiovisual glasses made me feel completely distracted and more relaxed." Conclusion The use of audiovisual glasses has no influence on the patients’ feelings of anxiety and stress during EP. The use of audiovisual glasses can temporarily induce distraction during EP, while they do not seem to be sufficient in reducing pain intensity during ablation therapy. Patients undergoing EP do not seem to be the target patient group for AVD use.

Oral Sedation Anesthesia Protocol for In-Office Oculoplastic Surgery.

To present an oral anesthesia protocol for in-office oculoplastic surgery and to compare safety outcomes and patient and physician experiences to ambulatory surgery center (ASC)-based surgery with intravenous sedation or general anesthesia. A prospective study was performed on consecutive patients undergoing surgery at an oculofacial plastic surgery practice. Surgery was performed in an in-office setting using our standardized oral sedation protocol or at an ASC with intravenous sedation or general anesthesia. Preoperative and postoperative surveys were conducted by patients and physicians to compare surgical experience, safety, and efficacy of our oral sedation protocol for in-office surgery in the ASC setting. Two hundred and fifty-three patients (167 in-office and 86 at ASC) underwent surgery between March and November 2022. There was no significant difference in how patients or physicians rated their experience between the 2 locations. A significantly higher proportion of ASC patients would have rather had surgery in-office (34.9% vs. 19.2%; p = 0.006). A significantly higher number of physicians in the office setting would have rather performed surgery at the ASC than the reverse (12.7% vs. 2.3%, respectfully; p = 0.007). There were no safety complications reported in either setting. Within our patient cohort, the presented oral sedation protocol provided safe and effective anesthesia for in-office oculoplastic surgery that is comparable to an ASC.

Abstract 145: Deploying Early Cooling at ICECAP Sites: A Barrier Assessment

Introduction: Best practices for implementing early temperature control in comatose survivors of cardiac arrest have yet to be defined. We surveyed sites enrolling in the Influence of Cooling Duration on Efficacy in Cardiac Arrest Patients (ICECAP) trial to understand variability in temperature control practices and identify barriers to rapid induction of cooling. Methods: A 23 question electronic survey was sent to principal investigators at 68 active ICECAP sites. Participants were queried on temperature control practices and asked to upload institutional protocols. Results: Fifty-two sites (76.5%) responded to the survey. While 45 sites (86.5%) had an institutional temperature control protocol, only 33 (63.5%) had an emergency department (ED)-specific protocol. Intravascular cooling was available at 21 sites (40.4%). The most frequent barriers to early initiation of temperature control were clinical skepticism regarding the importance of early cooling (n=32, 35.9%), insufficient nursing availability (n=18, 20.2%), lack of access to a cooling device in the ED (n=17, 19.1%), inability to achieve target temperature despite rapid connection to a cooling device (n=17, 19.1%), and delay due to procedures or intensive care unit transfer (n=5 5.6%). ED average boarding time exceeded two hours in 23 sites (44.2%). Fourteen (28%) sites did not have institutional protocols for early sedation or paralysis to help rapidly lower core body temperature during induction of temperature control. Paralytics were infrequently used during the induction phase; at the majority of sites (n=30, 61.2%) paralytics were used less than 20% of the time. Activation in the ICECAP trial resulted in quality improvements to institutional cooling protocols (n=14, 26.9%), such as purchase of cooling devices for the ED, development of sedation or paralytic protocols, and educational initiatives to shorten the time to target temperature. Conclusion: Many of the identified barriers for rapid initiation of temperature control are modifiable. Nursing and provider education regarding the importance of early cooling and development of standardized sedation and paralytic protocols may be effective strategies to improve early cooling practices.

Investigating Deep Sedation With Intravenous Ketamine in Spontaneous Respiration During Pulsed-Field Ablation

The authors report their experience of a protocol for deep sedation with ketamine in spontaneous respiration during the pulsed-field ablation (PFA) of atrial fibrillation (AF). Observational, prospective, nonrandomized fashion. Single-center hospitalized patients. All consecutive patients undergoing PFA of AF. Patients undergoing deep sedation with intravenous ketamine. The authors' sedation protocol involves the intravenous administration of fentanyl (1.5 µg/kg) and midazolam (2 mg) at low doses before local anesthesia with lidocaine. A ketamine adjunct (1 mg/kg) in 5-minute boluses was injected about 5 minutes before the first PFA delivery. The authors enrolled 117 patients (age=59 ± 10 y, 74.4% males, body mass index=27.6 ± 5 kg/m2, fluoroscopy time=24 ± 14 minutes, skin-to-skin time=80 ± 40 minutes and PFA LA dwell time=24 ± 7 minutes). By the end of the procedure, pulmonary vein isolation had been achieved in all patients using PFA alone. The mean time under sedation was 54.9 ± 6 minutes, with 92 patients (79%) being sedated for <1 hour. A satisfactory Ramsay Sedation Scale level before ketamine administration was achieved in all patients, except one (80.3% of the patients with rank 3; 18.4% with rank 2). In all procedures, the satisfaction level was found acceptable by both the patient and the primary operator (satisfactory in 98.2% of cases). All patients achieved a Numeric Rating Scale for Pain ≤3 (none or mild). No major procedure or anesthesia-related complications were reported. The authors' standardized sedation protocol with the administration of drugs with rapid onset and pharmacologic offset at low doses was safe and effective, with an optimal degree of patient and operator satisfaction.

Asleep-awake-asleep versus hypnosis for low-grade glioma surgery: long term follow-up outcome

Hypnosis-aided craniotomy is a safe alternative to standard asleep-awake-asleep (AAA) surgery in glioma surgery. The impact of these two anesthetic methods on tumor prognosis has never been assessed. This study aimed to evaluate the possible impact of the type of sedation (i.e., hypnosedation vs. standard sedation) on postoperative outcomes in awake surgery for gliomas. Adult patients who underwent awake surgery for a diffuse glioma, excluding glioblastomas, between May 2011 and December 2019 at the authors' institution were included in the analysis. Pearson Chi-square, Fisher exact, and Mann-Whitney U tests were used for inferential analyses. Sixty-one (61) patients were included, thirty-one were female (50.8 %), and the mean age was 41.8 years (SD = 11.88). Most patients had IDH mutated tumors (n = 51; 83.6%). Twenty-six patients (42.6%) were hypnosedated while 35 (57.4%) received standard AAA procedure. The overall median follow-up time was 48 months (range: 10 months-120 months). Our results did not identify any significant difference between both techniques in terms of extent of resection (sub-total resection >95% rates were 11.48% vs. 8.20%, OR = 2.2, 95% CI = 0.62-8.44; P = 0.34) and of overall survival (87.5% of patients in the AAA surgery group reach 9 years OS vs. 79% in the hypnosis cohort, cHR = 0.85, 95% CI = 0.12-6.04; P = 0.87). Hypnosis for awake craniotomy is rarely proposed although it is a suitable alternative to standard sedation in awake craniotomy for LGGs, with similar results in terms of extent of resection or survival.

Dexmedetomidine versus Fentanyl as Adjuvant to Propofol Total Intravenous Anesthesia during Endoscopic Retrograde Cholangial-Pancreatography Procedure

Abstract Background Various types of sedation and analgesia technique have been used during endoscopy procedures. Providing an adequate regimen of sedation/analgesia might be considered an art, influencing several aspects of endoscopic procedures: the quality of examination, the patient’s cooperation and the patient and physician’s satisfaction with sedation Objective To compare the effects of Dexmedetomidine/Propofol and Fentanyl/Propofol combination for conscious sedation in patients undergoing ERCP regarding hemodynamic changes, patients and endoscopists satisfaction. Patients and Methods Ninety four (94) ages 18-70 ASA ı-ıı were enrolled in this study. Patients were allocated randomly into two equal groups D/P and F/P groups. Patients received either Fentanyl 1 µg/kg or Dexmedetomidine 1 µg/kg for 10 min, followed by maintenance dose 0.2 µg to 0.5 µg/kg/min. combined with propofol 1 mg/kg IV and maintenance 3 mg/kg/h regimen. With requiring additional dose if sedation level did not reached. Conduct open airway technique was used while applying o through nasal cannula 3 L/min. (MAP, HR and SPO) were recorded before and after sedation procedures then every 10 min. till the end of procedure, recovery time, postoperative complications, patients and endoscopists were recorded. Results the intra procedure HR, and BP showed statistical significant differences between both groups throughout the procedure with lower value in group D/P (p = 0.042) while there were no statistical significance differences regarding MAP and SPO. During postoperative procedure BP and MAP was statistical significant lower in D/P group (p = 0.015). Post procedure recovery time was shorter in group D/P (p = 0.049), regarding PONV was higher in D/P compared to F/P (p = 0.03), both group were statistical significant satisfied. Conclusion In our study we concluded that Dexmedetomidine/ Propofol combination provided adequate sedation with hemodynamic and respiratory stability with accepted few side effects and a good satisfication scores for patients and endoscopists. It was a good competitive to standard sedative as Fentanyl/Propofol in moderate sedation during ERCP.

General anesthesia in spontaneous respiration with intravenous ketamine in patients undergoing pulsed-field ablation

Abstract Funding Acknowledgements Type of funding sources: None. Background Thermal ablation of atrial fibrillation (AF) by means of radiofrequency or cryo-balloon is usually performed under general anesthesia, deep sedation, or conscious sedation at operator’s discretion and based on the general condition of the patient. However, a standardized sedation protocol when performing a non-thermal ablation, such as pulsed-field ablation (PFA) through irreversible cellular electroporation, has not been well established. Purpose We report our preliminary experience of a general anesthesia in spontaneous respiration protocol with ketamine used at a high-volume center during ablation of AF with a new PFA system. Methods All consecutive patients (pts) undergoing AF ablation with PFA at our center were included. Our sedation protocol consists of intravenous administration of midazolam (1+1 mg), fentanyl (25+25+25+25 mcg/kg) at low doses before local anesthesia with lidocaine (200mg) administration. Patients underwent sedation under spontaneous respiration by administering oxygen (4-6 l/min) through a face mask with nasal cannula. Local anesthesia was performed before the percutaneous femoral venous access. Soon after the trans-septal puncture, heparin (1 mg/kg) and atropine (1 mg, to mitigate anticipated bradycardia) were injected, followed by a second bolus of midazolam (1 mg). Ketamine adjunct (1 mg/kg) was then injected about 5 minutes before the first PFA delivery which was titrated to effect based on patient’s condition, response and changes in vital signs (total ketamine adjunction of 2 mg/kg). For quantitative assessment the Numeric Rating Scale for Pain (NRS) was applied. For qualitative assessment a 3-levels satisfaction evaluation was retrieved. The ablation endpoint was PVI as assessed by entrance and exit block. Results Forty-two pts were included in this analysis (mean age of 66±9 years,72% were male, CHA2DS2VASc score=2 [IQR 1–3], median body mass index 24[20-48]kg/m2, 35% had respiratory diseases – e.g. asthma, OSAS, COPD –). At baseline, before sedation, mean systolic blood pressure was 140.5+20.1mmHg and mean oxygen saturation was 97.9+2.1%. PVI was achieved in all the patients. The number of PFA applications to reach PVI was 33.4+3 (time to PVI = 25+4min). In two cases additional PFA lesion sets were deployed outside the PVs. Lab occupancy time was 122±32min, skin-to-skin time was 78±35min and fluoroscopy time was 23±14min. All the patients achieved a NRS ≤ 3. Satisfaction level was found to be acceptable in all procedures by both the patient and the primary operator (Score equal to 0). No major procedure-related adverse events were reported. Conclusion The PFA procedure has a short execution time. The standardized anesthetic protocol with the administration of drugs with rapid onset and pharmacological offset at low doses was effective and safe with an optimal degree of patient and operator satisfaction.

Ventilatory Effects of Isoflurane Sedation via the Sedaconda ACD-S versus ACD-L: A Substudy of a Randomized Trial.

Devices used to deliver inhaled sedation increase dead space ventilation. We therefore compared ventilatory effects among isoflurane sedation via the Sedaconda ACD-S (internal volume: 50 mL), isoflurane sedation via the Sedaconda ACD-L (100 mL), and propofol sedation with standard mechanical ventilation with heat and moisture exchangers (HME). This is a substudy of a randomized trial that compared inhaled isoflurane sedation via the ACD-S or ACD-L to intravenous propofol sedation in 301 intensive care patients. Data from the first 24 h after study inclusion were analyzed using linear mixed models. Primary outcome was minute ventilation. Secondary outcomes were tidal volume, respiratory rate, arterial carbon dioxide pressure, and isoflurane consumption. In total, 151 patients were randomized to propofol and 150 to isoflurane sedation; 64 patients received isoflurane via the ACD-S and 86 patients via the ACD-L. While use of the ACD-L was associated with higher minute ventilation (average difference (95% confidence interval): 1.3 (0.7, 1.8) L/min, p < 0.001), higher tidal volumes (44 (16, 72) mL, p = 0.002), higher respiratory rates (1.2 (0.1, 2.2) breaths/min, p = 0.025), and higher arterial carbon dioxide pressures (3.4 (1.2, 5.6) mmHg, p = 0.002), use of the ACD-S did not significantly affect ventilation compared to standard mechanical ventilation and sedation. Isoflurane consumption was slightly less with the ACD-L compared to the ACD-S (-0.7 (-1.3, 0.1) mL/h, p = 0.022). The Sedaconda ACD-S compared to the ACD-L is associated with reduced minute ventilation and does not significantly affect ventilation compared to a standard mechanical ventilation and sedation setting. The smaller ACD-S is therefore the device of choice to minimize impact on ventilation, especially in patients with a limited ability to compensate (e.g., COPD patients). Volatile anesthetic consumption is slightly higher with the ACD-S compared to the ACD-L.

Safety, Efficacy, and Clinical Outcomes of Dexmedetomidine for Sedation in Traumatic Brain Injury: A Scoping Review.

Dexmedetomidine is a promising alternative sedative agent for moderate-severe Traumatic brain injury (TBI) patients. Although the data are limited, the posited benefits of dexmedetomidine in this population are a reduction in secondary brain injury compared with current standard sedative regimens. In this scoping review, we critically appraised the literature to examine the effects of dexmedetomidine in patients with moderate-severe TBI to examine the safety, efficacy, and cerebral and systemic physiological outcomes within this population. We sought to identify gaps in the literature and generate directions for future research. Two researchers and a librarian queried PubMed, Embase, Scopus, and APA PsycINFO databases. Of 920 studies imported for screening, 11 were identified for inclusion in the review. The primary outcomes in the included studied were cerebral physiology, systemic hemodynamics, sedation levels and delirium, and the presence of paroxysmal sympathetic hyperactivity. Dexmedetomidine dosing ranged from 0.2 to 1ug/kg/h, with 3 studies using initial boluses of 0.8 to 1.0ug/kg over 10minutes. Dexmedetomidine used independently or as an adjunct seems to exhibit a similar hemodynamic safety profile compared with standard sedation regimens, albeit with transient episodes of bradycardia and hypotension, decrease episodes of agitation and may serve to alleviate symptoms of sympathetic hyperactivity. This scoping review suggests that dexmedetomidine is a safe and efficacious sedation strategy in patients with TBI. Given its rapid onset of action and anxiolytic properties, dexmedetomidine may serve as a feasible sedative for TBI patients.

Auditory stimulation and deep learning predict awakening from coma after cardiac arrest.

Assessing the integrity of neural functions in coma after cardiac arrest remains an open challenge. Prognostication of coma outcome relies mainly on visual expert scoring of physiological signals, which is prone to subjectivity and leaves a considerable number of patients in a 'grey zone', with uncertain prognosis. Quantitative analysis of EEG responses to auditory stimuli can provide a window into neural functions in coma and information about patients' chances of awakening. However, responses to standardized auditory stimulation are far from being used in a clinical routine due to heterogeneous and cumbersome protocols. Here, we hypothesize that convolutional neural networks can assist in extracting interpretable patterns of EEG responses to auditory stimuli during the first day of coma that are predictive of patients' chances of awakening and survival at 3 months. We used convolutional neural networks (CNNs) to model single-trial EEG responses to auditory stimuli in the first day of coma, under standardized sedation and targeted temperature management, in a multicentre and multiprotocol patient cohort and predict outcome at 3 months. The use of CNNs resulted in a positive predictive power for predicting awakening of 0.83 ± 0.04 and 0.81 ± 0.06 and an area under the curve in predicting outcome of 0.69 ± 0.05 and 0.70 ± 0.05, for patients undergoing therapeutic hypothermia and normothermia, respectively. These results also persisted in a subset of patients that were in a clinical 'grey zone'. The network's confidence in predicting outcome was based on interpretable features: it strongly correlated to the neural synchrony and complexity of EEG responses and was modulated by independent clinical evaluations, such as the EEG reactivity, background burst-suppression or motor responses. Our results highlight the strong potential of interpretable deep learning algorithms in combination with auditory stimulation to improve prognostication of coma outcome.

Effects of General Anesthesia on the Results of Cardiac Catheterization in Pediatric Patients with Ventricular Septal Defect

<b>Background:</b> There is no gold standard sedation method for pediatric cardiac catheterization. In congenital heart diseases with intracardiac shunts, hemodynamic parameters are prone to change depending on the ventilation conditions and anesthetics, although few studies have examined these effects. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of two different sedation methods on the hemodynamic parameters. <b>Methods:</b> This study retrospectively evaluated consecutive patients with ventricular septal defect (VSD) below 1 year of age who underwent cardiac catheterization at Aichi Children’s Health and Medical Center, who were divided into age- and VSD diameter-matched general anesthesia (GA) and monitored anesthesia care (MAC) under the natural airway groups (<i></i>n = 40 each), for comparison of hemodynamic parameters. <b>Results:</b> In the GA group, arterial blood pH and arterial partial pressure of oxygen were significantly higher (<i>p</i> < 0.01), whereas arterial partial pressure of carbon dioxide was significantly lower than in the MAC group (<i>p</i> < 0.01). Mean pulmonary artery pressure (<i>p</i> < 0.05) and systemic blood pressure (<i>p</i> < 0.01) were lower in the GA group. Pulmonary vascular resistance index (<i>p</i> < 0.01) and systemic vascular resistance index (<i>p</i> < 0.01) were also significantly lower in the GA group than the MAC group. There were no significant differences in pulmonary blood flow index, systemic blood flow index, and pulmonary/systemic blood flow ratio between the two groups. <b>Conclusions:</b> Cardiac catheterization under GA in VSD patients results in different hemodynamic parameters compared to that under MAC. In particular, when using pulmonary artery pressure and pulmonary vascular resistance measured under GA for judgment regarding the surgical indications or perioperative management, consideration should be given to the fact that these parameters might be lower compared to those measured under MAC.

Early Sedation Depth and Clinical Outcomes in Mechanically Ventilated Patients in a Hospital: Retrospective Cohort Study

This study aimed to identify the early sedation depth in the first 48hours of mechanical ventilation and its relationship to clinical outcomes to promote the transition to light sedation. This retrospective single-center cohort study was conducted in two medical intensive care units (MICUs) at a general tertiary hospital, using a standardized sedation protocol. To investigate the early sedation depth, the Sedation Index was used, which can indicate changes over the first 48hours. Patients were divided into three groups based on tertiles of Sedation Index. The primary outcome was mortality at 30, 90, and 180 days. The secondary outcomes included length of stay in the ICU and ventilator-free days. Kaplan-Meier analysis and multivariable Cox regression were conducted to compare factors influencing mortality. This study included 394 patients. The deepest sedation group showed more severe illness, delirium, and deeper sedation at admission (p<.001). The survival curve decreased as sedation increased, even within the light sedation levels. In the deepest sedation group, 30-day mortality (hazard ratio [HR] 2.11, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.33-3.34), 90-day mortality (HR 2.00, 95% CI 1.31-3.06), and 180-day mortality (HR 1.77, 95% CI 1.17-2.67) increased. The length of stay in the ICU and ventilator-free days did not show statistical differences. These results indicate that early deep sedation is a modifiable factor that can potentially affect mortality. The protocol for inducing the transition into light sedation must comply with recommendations to improve clinical outcomes.

Tumescent local anesthesia versus general anesthesia for subcutaneous implantable cardioverter-defibrillator implantation: A cost-effectiveness analysis

General anesthesia (GA) is the standard sedation approach for subcutaneous cardioverter-defibrillator (S-ICD) implantation. Nonetheless, GA is expensive and can be associated with adverse events. Tumescent local anesthesia (TLA) has been shown to reduce in-room and procedural times and to decrease postprocedural pain, all of which could result in a reduction in procedure-related costs. The purpose of this study was to compare the cost-effectiveness of GA and TLA in patients undergoing S-ICD implantation. The present study is a prospective, nonrandomized, controlled study of patients who underwent S-ICD implantation between 2019 and 2022. Patients were allocated to either the TLA or the GA group. We performed a cost analysis for each intervention. As an effectiveness measure, the 0-10 point pain Numeric Rating Scale at 1, 12, and 24 hours postimplantation was analyzed and compared between the groups. A score of 0 was considered no pain; 1-5, mild pain; 6-7, moderate pain; and 8-10, severe pain. Cost-effectiveness was calculated using incremental cost-effectiveness ratios. Seventy patients underwent successful S-ICD implantation. The total cost of the electrophysiology laboratory was higher in the GA group than in the TLA group (median ± interquartile range $55,824 ± $29,411 vs $37,222 ± $24,293; P < .001), with a net savings of $20,821 when compared with GA for each S-ICD implantation. There was a significant decrease in postprocedural pain scores in the TLA group when compared with the GA group (repeated measures analysis of variance, P = .009; median ± interquartile range 0 ± 3 vs 0 ± 5 at 1 hour, P = .058; 3 ± 4 vs 6 ± 8 at 12 hours, P = .030; 0 ± 4 vs 2 ± 6 at 24 hours, P = .040). TLA is a more cost-effective alternative to GA for S-ICD implantation, with both direct and indirect cost reductions. Importantly, these reduced costs are associated with reduced postprocedural pain.