Pharmacotherapy
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Multicenter Study
Continuous Infusion Ketamine for Adjunctive Analgosedation in Mechanically Ventilated, Critically Ill Patients.
Ketamine is an N-methyl-D-aspartate antagonist with emerging evidence assessing its use as a continuous infusion agent to provide concomitant analgesia and sedation. The role of ketamine as adjunctive therapy in mechanically ventilated patients is unclear. This study sought to investigate the impact of adjunctive continuous infusion ketamine on concomitant analgesic and sedative dosing while providing goal comfort in mechanically ventilated patients. ⋯ Adjunctive continuous infusion ketamine promotes analgesic and sedative dose-sparing effects in mechanically ventilated patients while improving time spent within goal sedation range. Further prospective research is warranted.
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The appropriate level of sedation in patients with an open abdomen following damage control laparotomy (DCL) is debated. Chemical paralysis with neuromuscular blocking agents (NMBAs) has been used to decrease time to abdominal closure. We sought to evaluate the effect of NMBA use on sedation requirements in patients with an open abdomen and to determine the effect of sedation on patient outcomes. ⋯ On linear regression, cumulative propofol dose was associated with fewer delirium-coma-free days (β-coefficient -0.007, 95% confidence interval -0.015 to -0.003). In trauma patients managed with DCL, higher cumulative sedative doses were administered in patients who received adjunctive NMBA, although NMBA therapy was not associated with a higher cumulative propofol dose on multivariate analysis. Consideration must be given to the potential effect of sedation on delirium and awakening following DCL.
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Augmented renal clearance (ARC) is a phenomenon in critically ill patients characterized by increased creatinine clearance and elimination of renally eliminated medications. Patients with severe neurologic injury, sepsis, trauma, and burns have been consistently identified as at risk of ARC, with mean creatinine clearances ranging from 170 ml/minute to more than 300 ml/minute. Several potential mechanisms may contribute to the occurrence of ARC including endogenous responses to increased metabolism and solute production, alterations in neurohormonal balance, and therapeutic maneuvers such as fluid resuscitation. ⋯ Although definitive screening tools are not yet known, critical care pharmacists must be vigilant in recognizing when ARC may be a contributing factor affecting expected treatment outcomes in individual patients. Optimizing dosing strategies in critically ill patients with ARC remains a goal of continued research. The current review discusses the clinical characteristics and methods of identifying patients at risk of ARC, potential mechanisms for ARC, and describes pharmacotherapy dosing considerations in patients with ARC.
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Intensive care unit (ICU) delirium is an acute brain dysfunction that has been associated with increased mortality, prolonged ICU and hospital lengths of stay, and development of post-ICU cognitive impairment. Melatonin may help to restore sleep and reduce the occurrence of ICU delirium. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of melatonin for the prevention of ICU delirium in critically ill adults. ⋯ The development of ICU delirium was significantly lower in the melatonin group compared with that in the control group. To our knowledge, this is one of the only studies that has examined the use of melatonin for the prevention of ICU delirium. Melatonin may be a promising agent for the prevention of ICU delirium; however, a randomized study is needed to further validate its efficacy.