ICU sedation
- Treat pain first and use the lightest effective sedation
- Propofol or dexmedetomidine are common continuous choices
- Avoid deep benzodiazepine sedation when not required
- Daily awakening/mobility reduces delirium and ventilation time
- Dexmedetomidine causes bradycardia/hypotension
- Sedation never replaces analgesia
Use at a glance
- Treat pain first and use the lightest effective sedation
Practical pearls
- Propofol or dexmedetomidine are common continuous choices
- Daily awakening/mobility reduces delirium and ventilation time
Other practical pearls
- Dexmedetomidine causes bradycardia/hypotension
- Sedation never replaces analgesia
Safety / pitfalls
- Avoid deep benzodiazepine sedation when not required
Self-check
- What should be treated in ICU sedation?
pain first and use the lightest effective sedation.
- What should generally be avoided in ICU sedation?
deep benzodiazepine sedation when not required.
Drugs used for this (2)
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