Medicina intensiva
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One of the main factors to keep in mind for drug selection for the sedation of a critical patient is its foreseen duration. We have denominated by consent, short sedation that whose duration is less than 72 h. ⋯ In this chapter the pharmacology and the comparative studies of the drugs more used for this aim are revised and the clinical recommendations are settle down. Some recommendations for specific situations are also settle down and a role is assigned to less habitual drugs such as ketamine.
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Sedation and analgesia constitute one of the cornerstones in the management of the critically ill patients. Most patients admitted to an Intensive Care Unit require prolonged sedation and analgesia. It has been demonstrated that adequate sedo- analgesia lessens stress-related events in the critically ill patients, facilitating their management and improving their outcomes. ⋯ A proper monitoring and the implementation of sedation and analgesia protocols warrant the adequate management of existing sedatives aiding to avoid tolerance and dependency events. Strategies such as "sequential sedation", "dynamic sedation" or "daily sedation interruption" have been proposed as efficacious tools for the avoidance of complications related to prolonged sedation. In the present chapter, concepts related to prolonged sedation (meaning sedation for more than 72 hours) are reviewed; available agents are evaluated and strategies aimed to assure quality in its application are described.
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The epidural analgesia is one of the most effective techniques for pain relief when it is indicated, but it can present potentially serious complications that must precociously be diagnosed and be treated. In the Critical Care setting, epidural analgesia is used for pain control after surgery or major trauma. ⋯ Also the clonidine can be used. In order to diagnose and to treat suitably the possible complications (pain, urinary retention, nauseas and vomits, itching, motor block, infection, respiratory depression, hypotension) a series of safety measures must be adopted (respiratory and heart rate, blood pressure, sedation score, sensory and motor level assessment, rate of diuresis, temperature and signs of infection).
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Delirium, the acute confusional syndrome, is a common although infradiagnosed problem in the critically ill patient, especially the hypoactive subtype. Risk factors for delirium are previous cognitive disturbances, some comorbidities, ambiental factors and the acute organic alterations of critical illness. Delirium is associated to an increase in short and long term mortality, prolongation of mechanical ventilation, increased Intensive Care Unit (ICU) and hospital length of stay, and cognitive impairment after hospital discharge. ⋯ Halloperidol is the first line therapy of delirium in the critically ill patient, while experience with atypical neuroleptics and other drugs is limited, precluding to do recommendations about its use. Neuroleptic drugs can produce severe side effects and need careful dosage and monitoring. When agitation is important, can be necessary the simultaneous use of benzodiazepines or propofol, and some times, the temporal and protocolized application of physical restraints.
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Once analgesia is assured, sedation has special relevance in the critically ill ventilated patient's global treatment. Sedatives should be adjusted to individual needs, by administering minimal effective doses to achieve the AIM. This aim must be clearly identified, defined at the beginning of the treatment and revised on a regular basis, ideally at least once per shift. ⋯ This Spanish Society of Critical Care Medicine's Analgesia and Sedation Work Group recommends the Richmond Agitation Sedation Scale, due to its interrelationship with the Confusion Assessment Method Scale (CAM-ICU), for sedation monitoring in patients under light sedation while it recommends bispectral index sedation monitoring in patients under deep sedation. In the latter case, maintaining values under 40 on the bispectral index doesn't produce any benefits except in patients who require a maximum decrease in neuronal metabolism. To avoid recall phenomena, bispectral monitoring is highly advisable in patients treated with neuromuscular blockers.