Sedation in ICU: are we achieving goals?

Objective: The purpose of this study was to examine whether sedation goals, utilizing a validated sedation assessment scale, the Riker Sedation-Agitation Scale (SAS), and a standardized sedation protocol, were achieved in Intensive Care Unit (ICU) patients.

Design: This is a nested prospective cohort study

Setting: The study was conducted in a tertiary care medical-surgical ICU.

Patients: All mechanically ventilated adult patients who were judged by their treating intensivists to require intravenous sedation for more than 24 hours, were included in the study.

Changing sedation practices in the intensive care unit--protocol implementation, multifaceted multidisciplinary approach and teamwork.

Introduction: Sedation protocols have demonstrated effectiveness in improving ICU sedation practices. However, the importance of multifaceted multidisciplinary approach on the success of such protocols has not been fully examined.

Methods: The study was conducted in a tertiary care medical-surgical ICU as a prospective, 4-pronged, observational study describing a quality improvement initiative that employs 2 types of controlled comparisons: a "before and after" comparison related to intense education of ICU clinicians and nurses about sedation and analgesia in the ICU, and a comparison of protocolized versus non-protocolized care.