New horizons (Baltimore, Md.)
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Aggressive methods of decreasing oxygen consumption, such as therapeutic musculoskeletal paralysis, are used in patients with marginal oxygen delivery associated with cardiac and respiratory insufficiency. This is especially true of new mechanical ventilation methods designed to decrease tidal volume and peak airway pressures. ⋯ Escalated doses of sedatives, followed by oppressive hemodynamic and ventilatory side-effects, sometimes indicate the need for therapeutic musculoskeletal paralysis to quickly control life-threatening agitation syndromes. Cerebral-function monitoring with portable, noninvasive, computer-processed monitors allows quick recognition of brain functions under titrated, suspended animation in real time, facilitating modulation of therapy when the visual clues of neuronal function disappear.
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Pain is a major problem and primary concern of patients in the ICU. While nonintubated patients can verbalize their discomfort to healthcare providers, intubated patients cannot effectively communicate and are more at risk for inadequate analgesia. Mechanically ventilated, paralyzed patients are at even greater risk for inadequate control of pain. ⋯ A number of techniques are available, ranging from nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs to other techniques and medications. However, analgesia usually requires the use of exogenous opioids. The most critically ill, mechanically ventilated patient receiving controlled alveolar minute ventilation is a candidate for continuous infusion of intravenous narcotics.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
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Review
Persistent paralysis in critically ill patients after the use of neuromuscular blocking agents.
Neuromuscular blocking agents (NMBAs), an important part of the pharmacologic armamentarium of the intensivist, have a long and admirable history of safety when used in the operating room for periods of time (almost always < 12 hrs). Since 1985, dozens of medical journals have reported a multitude of studies on persistent paralysis when these same agents are exported from the operating room to the ICU. Most of these reports are case presentations of patients who failed to move for days to weeks after discontinuation of NMBAs. ⋯ This article sorts through the issues surrounding persistent paralysis, and defines it as a short-term and a long-term problem. The short-term problem seems to have a pharmacologic explanation that is not difficult to correct. The long-term problem is much more complex and may have a toxic explanation that may also be more difficult to manage.
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Neuromuscular blocking agents (NMBAs) are commonly prescribed as adjunct therapy for many critically ill patients. Controversy exists regarding the appropriate long-term use of these agents, particularly since there are severe potential clinical consequences. The expanded use of NMBAs has had a significant effect on the cost of ICU care. ⋯ This article reviews some of the indicative economic issues surrounding the use of sedatives, analgesics, and NMBAs in the critical care arena. Understanding the pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic differences of these agents can aid in drug selection and route of administration. Appropriate drug selection can influence the pharmacoeconomics of these agents in the ICU.
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Neuromuscular blocking agents (NMBAs) are used in critical illness to reduce metabolic demands and prevent ventilator asynchrony in patients refractory to sedation and anxiolysis. Concurrent interventions for patients receiving neuromuscular blockade include many factors related to prevention, maintenance, and monitoring during immobilization. Prevention interventions include skin care, turning regimes, physical therapy, eye care, and pulmonary toilet to prevent atelectasis, pneumonia, skin breakdown, and corneal ulceration. ⋯ Cost of therapy is influenced by preventing the side-effects of immobility, the choice of NMBA, and concurrent drug therapies, as well as by titration of the NMBA to the lowest drug dose possible to obtain clinical end-points. Clinical end-points are individualized by the prescribing physician and may range from "no movement" to "movement acceptable but no evidence of spontaneous respirations" to "movement acceptable but no ventilator asynchrony." Whenever "no movement"c is identified as the goal, a nerve stimulator is used to identify the depth of paralysis and prevent accidental surplus drug administration, which may result in prolonged paralysis. Methods for using the nerve stimulator and troubleshooting techniques are discussed.