Medicina intensiva
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There is a wide intra- and inter-individual variability in sedative dose requirements in mechanically ICU patients. Patient's heterogeneity, the frequent and variable organic dysfunctions, the drug interactions and the possibility of metabolite accumulation could explain this variability. However, this fact must not justify the use of excessive doses to achieve the goals of sedation. ⋯ This SEMICYUC Analgesia and Sedation Work Group recommends not administering more than 4.5 mg/kg/h of propofol or 0.25 mg/kg/h of midazolam. The need to use more than these doses should force a change in the sedative or the combined administration of both. Depending on the clinical situation or the clinical patient's evolution, the use of clonidine, haloperidol or remifentanil could be better options.
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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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Neuromuscular blockade monitoring aims should be based on effectiveness criteria, that is, to administer the lowest effective dose, and on security criteria, avoiding overdosage and detecting possible residual blockade before patient extubation. A neuromuscular blockade monitoring and usage protocol should be available with predefined objectives for each patient to achieve the minimum effective doses. Maintenance of a light blockade level probably influences the decrease in complications associated with these drugs' use. ⋯ Ensuring adequate sedation and analgesia in a paralysed patient is essential. An inadequately sedated but paralysed patient may subsequently suffer serious psychological and emotional stress. Bispectral index monitoring with sedative doses adjusted to 40-60 values assures, in most situations, correct sedation.
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Hemodynamic monitoring is a key element in the care of the critical patients, providing an unquestionable aid in the attendance to diagnosis and the choice of the adequate treatment. Minimally invasive devices have been emerging over the past few years as an effective alternative to classic monitoring tools. The esophageal echoDoppler is among these. ⋯ Although several studies have demonstrated the usefulness of the esophageal Doppler in the surgical scene, there is scarce and dispersed evidence in the literature on its benefits in critical patients. Nevertheless, its advantages make it an attractive element to take into account within the diagnostic arsenal in the intensive care. The purpose of the following article is to describe how it works, its degree of validation with other monitoring methods and the role of esophageal echoDoppler as a minimally invasive monitoring tool for measuring cardiac output in the daily clinical practice, contributing with our own experience in the critical patient.
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Review
[Applications of transcranial color-coded duplex sonography in monitoring neurocritical patients].
Transcranial sonography is a common tool for monitoring neurocritical patients. Transcranial color-coded duplex ultrasonography enables hemodynamic and structural study of the cerebral parenchyma in these patients. ⋯ The use of ultrasonographic contrast agents enables conclusive findings in practically 100% of cases and allows cerebral perfusion to be studied at the bedside using semiquantitative methods. This review aims to show the applications of transcranial color-coded duplex ultrasonography for monitoring neurocritical patients in intensive care units.