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Assessing sedation with regional anesthesia: inter-rater agreement on a modified Wilson sedation scale.

UNLABELLED: A valid and reliable means for measuring sedation during regional anesthesia would be valuable for both research and practice. Current methods of monitoring sedation include machine-, patient-, and observer-based assessment. The reliability of machine-based methods is limited at lower levels of sedation, whereas patient-based methods are impractical at higher levels. Observer-based methods offer the best alternative for assessing sedation during regional anesthesia; however, their reliability has not been adequately documented. We examined the interrater reliability of the Wilson sedation scale. Sedation was assessed by pairs of anesthesia care providers in 100 patients undergoing surgical procedures with regional anesthesia. On the basis of the findings, the scale was modified, and 50 additional patients were assessed. The study protocol called for a series of standardized stimuli administered by a research assistant. Raters were blinded to each other's ratings. Interrater reliability was assessed by using the kappa statistic, a measure of actual agreement beyond agreement by chance. When continuing checks on its operationalization and reliability are included, the modified Wilson scale provides a simple and reliable means by which to assess and monitor intraoperative sedation. IMPLICATIONS: We evaluated the interrater reliability of the Wilson scale for measuring sedation during regional anesthesia. Paired anesthesia care providers' ratings of patient sedation indicated very good interrater reliability in both the original scale and a modified version. The modified Wilson scale provides a quick noninvasive means of monitoring sedation during regional anesthesia.

Adolescent↗

Decreased duration of mechanical ventilation when comparing analgesia-based sedation using remifentanil with standard hypnotic-based sedation for up to 10 days in intensive care unit patients: a randomised trial [ISRCTN47583497].

INTRODUCTION: This randomised, open-label, multicentre study compared the safety and efficacy of an analgesia-based sedation regime using remifentanil with a conventional hypnotic-based sedation regime in critically ill patients requiring prolonged mechanical ventilation for up to 10 days. METHODS: One hundred and five randomised patients received either a remifentanil-based sedation regime (initial dose 6 to 9 microg kg(-1) h(-1) (0.1 to 0.15 microg kg(-1) min(-1)) titrated to response before the addition of midazolam for further sedation (n = 57), or a midazolam-based sedation regime with fentanyl or morphine added for analgesia (n = 48). Patients were sedated to an optimal Sedation-Agitation Scale (SAS) score of 3 or 4 and a pain intensity (PI) score of 1 or 2. RESULTS: The remifentanil-based sedation regime significantly reduced the duration of mechanical ventilation by more than 2 days (53.5 hours, P = 0.033), and significantly reduced the time from the start of the weaning process to extubation by more than 1 day (26.6 hours, P < 0.001). There was a trend towards shortening the stay in the intensive care unit (ICU) by 1 day. The median time of optimal SAS and PI was the same in both groups. There was a significant difference in the median time to offset of pharmacodynamic effects when discontinuing study medication in patients not extubated at 10 days (remifentanil 0.250 hour, comparator 1.167 hours; P < 0.001). Of the patients treated with remifentanil, 26% did not receive any midazolam during the study. In those patients that did receive midazolam, the use of remifentanil considerably reduced the total dose of midazolam required. Between days 3 and 10 the weighted mean infusion rate of remifentanil remained constant with no evidence of accumulation or of a development of tolerance to remifentanil. There was no difference between the groups in SAS or PI score in the 24 hours after stopping the study medication. Remifentanil was well tolerated. CONCLUSION: Analgesia-based sedation with remifentanil was well tolerated; it reduces the duration of mechanical ventilation and improves the weaning process compared with standard hypnotic-based sedation regimes in ICU patients requiring long-term ventilation for up to 10 days.

Analgesics, Opioid↗

Patient-controlled sedation during transvaginal oocyte retrieval: an assessment of patient acceptance of patient-controlled sedation using a mixture of propofol and alfentanil.

Patient-controlled sedation (PCS) has been used during many different surgical procedures, both alone and as an adjunct to local or regional anaesthesia. Sedation with an admixture of propofol and alfentanil during transvaginal oocyte retrieval has been used successfully in this unit and this study was performed to assess the degree of patient acceptance of patient-controlled sedation, as other studies have indicated that self-administration of sedation may confer additional benefits on the patient, unrelated to the choice of sedation agent. An admixture of 50 mL propofol 1% with alfentanil 2 mg was loaded into a Graseby 3300 patient-controlled analgesia pump and administered as increments of 0.3 mL with a zero lock-out interval. This method of sedation provided safe and highly satisfactory sedation for this group of patients with 55 of 56 patients indicating that they would opt for this type of sedation again. There was a very low incidence of over-sedation, and this sedation method is likely to produce a relaxed and co-operative patient for a wide variety of surgical procedures.

Adult↗

Parameter identification and sedative sensitivity analysis of an agitation-sedation model.

Sedation administration and agitation management are fundamental activities in any intensive care unit. A lack of objective measures of agitation and sedation, as well as poor understanding of the underlying dynamics, contribute to inefficient outcomes and expensive healthcare. Recent models of agitation-sedation dynamics have enhanced understanding of the underlying dynamics and enable development of advanced protocols for semi-automated sedation administration. In this research, the agitation-sedation model parameters are identified using an integral-based fitting method developed in this work. Parameter variance is then analysed over 37 intensive care unit patients. The parameter identification method is shown to be effective and computationally inexpensive, making it suited to real-time clinical control applications. Sedative sensitivity, an important model parameter, is found to be both patient-specific and time-varying. However, while the variation between patients is observed to be as large as a factor 10, the observed variation in time is smaller, and varies slowly over a period of days rather than hours. The high fitted model performance across all patients show that the agitation-sedation model presented captures the fundamental dynamics of the agitation-sedation system. Overall, these results provide additional insight into the system and clinical dynamics of sedation management.

Computer Simulation↗

Assessing sedation during intensive care unit mechanical ventilation with the Bispectral Index and the Sedation-Agitation Scale.

OBJECTIVE: To describe the level of sedation for a cohort of mechanically ventilated adult intensive care unit (ICU) patients using validated subjective and objective tools. DESIGN: Prospective convenience sample. SETTING: Multidisciplinary 34-bed ICU at Maine Medical Center, a 599-bed nonuniversity, academic medical center. PATIENTS: Sixty-three adult ICU patients were monitored during 64 episodes of ventilatory support. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: Patients were prospectively evaluated by one trained investigator using the revised Sedation-Agitation Scale (SAS) and were simultaneously monitored for 1 to 5 hrs using the Bispectral Index (BIS), a numeric scale from 0 to 100 derived from the electroencephalogram. BIS values were assigned to baseline, stimulated, and average conditions for each patient by a separate investigator blinded to SAS scores. Ventilator settings, medications, and the lung injury severity (LIS) score were also recorded. Sedation levels varied from very deep sedation (SAS score = 1, BIS score = 43) to mild agitation (SAS score = 5, BIS score = 100). Heavily sedated patients (SAS score = 1-2, n = 20) had higher FIO2 (0.52 vs. 0.42, p = .008), oxygenation index (9.4 vs. 5.4, p = .03), and LIS scores (1.3 vs. 0.7, p = .004) and lower baseline (66 vs. 78, p = .01), average (66 vs. 81, p < .001), and stimulated (89 vs. 96, p = .016) BIS scores compared with more awake patients. Patients with intermittent neuromuscular blockade use (n = 4) had higher FIO2 (0.65 vs. 0.44, p = .006), minute ventilation (14.6 vs. 9.9 L/min, p = .005), positive end-expiratory pressure (7.5 vs. 4.8 cm H2O, p = .05), oxygenation index (15.7 vs. 6.0, p < .001), and LIS scores (3.3 vs. 1.0, p = .036) and were more sedated, with higher suppression ratios (3.5 vs. 0.6, p = .05) and lower SAS scores (1.5 vs. 4, p = .035). The average BIS values correlated well with SAS (r2 = .21, p < .001). CONCLUSIONS: SAS and BIS work well to describe the depth of sedation for ventilated ICU patients. Deeper sedation and intermittent neuromuscular blockade were used for patients with greater ventilatory requirements and more severe lung disease. The correlation between subjective and objective scales varied in medical, surgical, and trauma patients. Further research with SAS and BIS may facilitate the development of quantitative sedation guidelines for the ICU.

Adult↗

Randomized, controlled, cross-over clinical trial comparing intravenous midazolam sedation with nitrous oxide sedation in children undergoing dental extractions.

BACKGROUND: The use of benzodiazepines for paediatric dental sedation has received limited attention with regard to research into clinical effectiveness. A study was therefore designed to investigate the use of midazolam, for i.v. sedation in paediatric dental patients. METHOD: The aim of the study was to assess the effectiveness of i.v. midazolam in a randomized, controlled, cross-over trial. Children aged 12-16 yr (ASA I and II), requiring two appointments for equivalent but contralateral dental extractions for orthodontic purposes, were recruited. Conscious sedation with either i.v. midazolam titrated at 0.5 mg x min(-1), to a maximum of 5 mg, or nitrous oxide/oxygen titrated to 30%/70% inhalation sedation was used at the first visit, the alternative being used at the second visit. Vital signs including blood pressure, arterial oxygen saturation and ventilatory frequency, as well as sedation levels and behavioural scores, were recorded every 2 min. RESULTS: Forty patients, mean age 13.2 yr (range 12-16 yr), participated in the trial. A mean dose of midazolam 2.8 mg was administered in the test group. The median time to the maximum level of sedation was 8 min for midazolam compared with 6 min for nitrous oxide (P<0.001). Vital signs for both treatments were comparable and within acceptable clinical limits and communication with the patient was maintained at all times. The median (range) lowest arterial oxygen saturation level recorded for midazolam was 97 (91-99)% compared with 97 (92-100)% for nitrous oxide. The mean (range) recovery time for midazolam was 51.6 (39-65) min and 23.3 (20-34) min for nitrous oxide (P<0.0001). Fifty-one per cent said they preferred i.v. midazolam, 38% preferred nitrous oxide, and 11% had no preference. CONCLUSION: I.V. midazolam sedation (0.5 mg x min(-1) to a maximum of 5 mg) appears to be as effective as nitrous oxide sedation in 12-16-yr-old healthy paediatric dental patients.

Adolescent↗

Toward solving the sedation-assessment conundrum: bi-spectral index monitoring and sedation interruption.

The sedation-assessment conundrum is defined by two diametrically opposed goals: to maintain an appropriate level of sedation, and to obtain a comprehensive neurologic examination that most accurately reflects the patient's neurologic status. A case presentation leads to a discussion of over-sedation and under-sedation issues that impact the care of critically ill patients. This information is useful in understanding the many methods of assessing sedation and interpreting individualized patient responses to sedation. The use of bi-spectral index monitoring and periods of sedation interruption are discussed within the context of addressing the sedation-assessment conundrum.

Procedural Sedation↗

A comparative study of sevoflurane sedation with nitrous oxide sedation for dental surgery.

This study compares the use of inhalation sedation using sevoflurane (group S) with inhalation sedation using nitrous oxide (group N) in patients undergoing bilateral extraction of third molar teeth under local anaesthesia. The study was designed as a cross-over study. Seventeen ASA I, day surgery patients were studied. Patients were randomly allocated to receive either 8 l/min 50% nitrous oxide in oxygen (group N) or same flow of 1% sevoflurane (group S) for the first procedure. Each patient then had the alternate method of sedation for the second procedure. There were no significant differences between the methods in patient co-operation and surgeon's satisfaction with sedation. Psychomotor tests were comparable in both groups. The patients were significantly more sedated in the group S compared to group N (P=0.004). Significantly more patients complained of an unpleasant odour group S (P<0.01) but none withdrew from the study for this reason. No adverse cardiorespiratory effects resulted from sevoflurane or nitrous oxide sedation. Both methods gave good amnesia during the procedure. There was high acceptance of both methods and the patients rated the technique as equally satisfactory. We conclude that inhalation sedation with sevoflurane is a suitable alternative method to nitrous oxide sedation.

Adult↗

Impact of tracheotomy on sedative administration, sedation level, and comfort of mechanically ventilated intensive care unit patients.

OBJECTIVE: To assess the impact of tracheotomy on sedative administration, sedation level, and autonomy of mechanically-ventilated intensive care unit (ICU) patients. DESIGN, SETTING, AND PATIENTS: In this observational study, the charts of all consecutive patients undergoing mechanical ventilation requiring tracheotomy over a 14-month period in our 18-bed tertiary care ICU were reviewed retrospectively. Patients' sedation levels (according to the Riker's 7-level sedation-agitation score) and intravenous (fentanyl and midazolam) and oral (clorazepate and haloperidol) sedative administration were measured daily during the 7 days before and after tracheotomy. We also recorded patients for whom chair positioning and oral alimentation became possible in the days following tracheotomy. INTERVENTIONS: None. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: Tracheotomy was performed on 72 (23.1%) of the 312 patients undergoing mechanical ventilation for > or = 48 hrs. After tracheotomy, median (25th, 75th percentiles) fentanyl and midazolam administration decreased from 866 (191, 1672) to 71 (3, 426) microg/(patient.day) and from 44 (16, 128) to 7 (1, 42) mg/(patient.day) (p < .001), respectively. Concomitant median time spent heavily sedated decreased from 7 (3, 17) to 1 (0, 6) hrs/day (p < .001), with no increase in agitation time. During the 7 days following tracheotomy, partial oral alimentation became possible for 35 patients (48.6%) and out-of-bed positioning became possible for 16 patients (22.2%). CONCLUSION: On the basis of these observations, we conclude that tracheotomized mechanically ventilated ICU patients required less intravenous sedative administration, spent less time heavily sedated, and achieved more autonomy earlier.

Algorithms↗

Sedation versus no sedation in the performance of diagnostic upper gastrointestinal endoscopy: a Canadian randomized controlled cost-outcome study.

BACKGROUND: Sedation is not required to perform a technically adequate gastroscopy (EGDE), but does improve patient satisfaction, comfort, and willingness to repeat particularly in the elderly and those with decreased pharyngeal sensitivity. The comparative cost-efficacy of sedation versus no sedation remains poorly characterized. AIM: To compare the cost-efficacy of diagnostic EGDE with and without sedation in an adult ambulatory Canadian population. METHODS: A double-blind randomized controlled trial assigned patients to sedation versus placebo. "Successful endoscopy" was considered an EGDE rated 4/4 in technical adequacy (1 = inadequate to 4 = totally adequate), and 1-2/5 in patient self-reported comfort (1 = acceptable to 5 = unacceptable). Secondary outcomes included recovery room time, patient satisfaction alone, and willingness to repeat the procedure. Cost data were obtained using a published, institutional activity-based costing methodology. Analysis was intention to treat using standard univariate and multivariate methods. RESULTS: 419 patients (mean age 54.5, 48% male) were randomized (N = 210 active vs N = 209 placebo). Among patients randomized to active medication 76% of procedures were "successful" (placebo 46%), 79% were satisfied with their level of comfort (placebo 47%), and willingness to repeat was 81% (placebo 65%). We observed a 10% crossover rate from placebo to active medications. The use of sedation was the major determinant of successful endoscopy (OR = 3.8; 95% CI: 2.5-5.7), but contributed to an increased recovery room time (29 vs 15 min; p < 0.0001). The expected cost of an additional successful endoscopy using sedation was $90.06 (CDN). In a planned subgroup analysis, among the elderly (>75; N = 53) unsedated endoscopy became the dominant approach. Indeed, in this population, a trend was observed favoring the effectiveness of placebo (63%) versus active medication (57%) (OR = 0.75; 95% CI: 0.25-2.3) and was less costly resulting in $450 savings/unsedated EGDE. CONCLUSIONS: In the average Canadian ambulatory adult population, sedated diagnostic EGDE is more costly but remains an efficacious strategy by increasing the rate of successful endoscopies, patient satisfaction, and willingness to repeat. However, among the elderly (>75 yr), an unsedated strategy may be more cost-efficacious.

Adult↗

Propofol alone titrated to deep sedation versus propofol in combination with opioids and/or benzodiazepines and titrated to moderate sedation for colonoscopy.

BACKGROUND: Propofol by nonanesthesiologists is controversial because the drug is commonly used to produce deep sedation or general anesthesia. Propofol in combination with opioids and/or benzodiazepines can be titrated to moderate sedation, which might be safer. AIM: To compare recovery time, patient satisfaction, and other end points with propofol alone titrated to deep sedation versus propofol combination therapy with opioids and/or benzodiazepines. METHOD: A randomized controlled clinical trial of propofol alone titrated to deep sedation versus fentanyl plus propofol versus midazolam plus propofol versus fentanyl plus midazolam plus propofol in 200 outpatients undergoing colonoscopy. Each combination regimen was titrated to moderate sedation. RESULTS: Patients receiving propofol alone received higher doses of propofol and had deeper sedation scores compared with combination therapy (both p < 0.001). Patients receiving combination regimens were discharged more quickly (median 13.0-14.7 versus 18.1 min) than those receiving propofol alone (p < 0.01). There were no differences in vital signs or oxygen saturations among the study arms. There were no significant differences in pain or satisfaction among the study arms in the recovery area. At a follow-up phone call, patients receiving fentanyl and propofol remembered more of the procedure than those in the other regimens (p < 0.005) and remembered more pain than those receiving propofol alone (p < 0.02). CONCLUSIONS: Propofol in combination with fentanyl and/or midazolam can be titrated to moderate levels of sedation without substantial loss of satisfaction and with shorter recovery times compared with propofol titrated to deep sedation throughout the procedure.

Adjuvants, Anesthesia↗

Reversal of central benzodiazepine effects by flumazenil after conscious sedation produced by intravenous diazepam. The Flumazenil in Intravenous Conscious Sedation with Diazepam Multicenter Study Group I.

Flumazenil is a competitive benzodiazepine antagonist that rapidly reverses the residual effects of benzodiazepines following intravenous conscious sedation. In a double-blind, multicenter study, postoperative patients who had been sedated with intravenous diazepam were randomly allocated to receive intravenous doses of flumazenil (0.4 mg to 1 mg) or placebo. Levels of sedation and psychomotor impairment were evaluated prestudy, at baseline, and at 6 intervals from 5 to 180 minutes posttreatment. A global evaluation of effectiveness was made at the 5-minute assessment, and memory was assessed at the 180-minute assessment. Flumazenil (mean dose: 0.73 mg [7.3 ml]) was significantly more effective than placebo (mean dose: 8.9 ml) in reversing sedation, psychomotor impairment, and amnesia within 5 minutes after the start of administration. At the 5-minute posttreatment assessment, 84% of 102 flumazenil-treated patients (compared with 42% of 52 placebo-treated patients) experienced complete reversal of sedation. Ninety-two percent of 93 flumazenil-treated patients (compared with 41% of 46 placebo-treated patients) had normal psychomotor function. Reversal of amnesia at the 5-minute assessment was achieved in 75% of 101 flumazenil-treated patients and in 20% of 51 placebo-treated patients. Statistically significant differences between flumazenil and placebo were also observed at the 15-minute assessment. Thereafter there were no significant differences between the two treatment groups. Most (70%) flumazenil-treated patients exhibited no recurrence of sedation during the 180-minute assessment period. The most frequent adverse reaction in the flumazenil group was dizziness (6%). There were no serious adverse experiences related to the test drug. Flumazenil provided prompt, controlled reversal of residual effects, especially sedation, in the majority (84%) of patients recovering from intravenous conscious sedation induced by diazepam. For most (70%) of these flumazenil-treated patients, the reversal was maintained throughout the 180-minute assessment.

Adolescent↗

[The dosage of sedative was reduced by patient-controlled sedation during epidural anesthesia].

The dosage of sedatives required for sedation was studied in patients who underwent total abdominal histerectomy under epidural anesthesia using patient-controlled sedation (PCS) and in those with anesthesiologist-controlled sedation (ACS). Patients in experimental groups received 1.0 or 1.5 mg bolus dose of midazolam by their request until desirable sedation was obtained using a computer-controlled device. In control group, anesthesiologists gave 1.5 mg bolus dose of midazolam and repeated until enough sedation was obtained. The total amount of midazolam was 12.15 +/- 3.90 mg (mean +/- SD) in ACS group and showed significant differences from experimental groups (PCS-1.0 group: 7.43 +/- 1.81 mg, PCS-1.5 group: 6.30 +/- 2.81 mg). The level of sedation showed wider variation in PCS groups than in ACS groups. The results suggest that PCS is a technique which allows reduction of sedatives in patients who undergo operation under local anesthesia.

Adult↗

Trace element homeostasis during continuous sedation with propofol containing EDTA versus other sedatives in critically ill patients.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate changes in serum and urinary zinc, cobalt, copper, iron, and calcium concentrations in critically ill patients receiving propofol containing disodium edetate (disodium ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid [EDTA]) versus sedative agents without EDTA. DESIGN: This was a randomised, open-label, parallel-group study with randomisation stratified by baseline Acute Physiology and Chronic Health Evaluation (APACHE II) scores. SETTING: Intensive care units (ICU) in 23 medical centres. PATIENTS: Medical, surgical, or trauma ICU patients 17 years of age or older who required mechanical ventilator support and sedation. INTERVENTIONS: A total of 106 patients received propofol containing 0.005 % EDTA (propofol EDTA), and 104 received other sedative agents without EDTA (non-EDTA). Only the first 108 patients were assessed for urinary trace metal excretion. Twenty-four-hour urine samples were collected on days 2, 3, and 7 and every 7 days thereafter for determination of zinc, cobalt, copper, iron, and calcium excretion; EDTA levels; urine osmolality; albumin levels; and glucose levels. The first 143 patients were assessed for serum concentration of zinc, cobalt, copper, iron, and calcium; creatinine; blood urea nitrogen; and albumin at baseline and once during each 24-hour urine collection. MEASUREMENTS AND RESULTS: For the assessment of trace metals, patients receiving propofol EDTA demonstrated increased mean urinary excretion of zinc, copper, and iron compared with the normal range. All patients receiving sedatives demonstrated increased urinary excretion of zinc and copper above normal reference values. Compared with the non-EDTA sedative group, the propofol EDTA group demonstrated increased urinary excretion of zinc and iron. Mean serum concentrations of zinc and total calcium were decreased in both patient groups. Serum zinc concentrations increased from baseline to day 3 in the non-EDTA sedative group but not in the propofol EDTA group. Renal function, measured by blood urea nitrogen, serum creatinine, and creatinine clearance, did not deteriorate during ICU sedation with either regimen. CONCLUSION: This study showed that critical illness is associated with increased urinary losses of zinc, copper, and iron. Propofol EDTA-treated patients had greater urinary losses of zinc and iron and lower serum zinc concentrations compared with the non-EDTA sedative group. No adverse events indicative of trace metal deficiency were observed in either group. The clinical significance of trace metal losses during critical illness is unclear and requires further study.

APACHE↗

Comparison of data obtained from sedated versus unsedated wireless telemetry capsule placement: does sedation affect the results of ambulatory 48-hour pH testing?

OBJECTIVES: The introduction of 48-hour wireless pH testing provides a novel technique of evaluating persons with suspected reflux disease. The wireless capsule can be placed in a sedated individual at the time of esophagogastroduodenoscopy (EGD) or in an unsedated individual at a time after the initial EGD, at the time of esophageal manometry or at the time of transnasal esophagoscopy. The effect that sedation has on the results of 48-hour wireless pH testing has not been evaluated. PURPOSE: To evaluate the day to day variability and the effect of sedation on the results of 48-hour wireless pH testing. METHODOLOGY: The charts of all patients at a tertiary swallowing center undergoing 48-hour wireless pH testing between June 1, 2003 and December 31, 2004 were retrospectively evaluated. Data concerning study indications, route of pH capsule placement, duration of pH recording, and test results were collected. Day to day variability was evaluated, and the results obtained from persons with sedated and unsedated pH capsule placement were compared. RESULTS: Two hundred and six studies were performed. The indications for the examination were gastroesophageal reflux disease (146/206), chronic cough (36/206), and laryngopharyngeal reflux (24/206). Sixty-two percent (128/206) of the studies were performed without sedation and 38% (78/206) with sedation. The overall reproducibility of the daily pH recordings (day 1 vs. day 2) was 77%. Although some trends were observed, there was no significant association between the use of sedation and any of the reflux parameters on pH testing (P > .05). CONCLUSIONS: The day to day reproducibility of 48-hour wireless pH testing was 77%. Intravenous sedation does not appear to have a significant effect on the results of 48-hour wireless pH testing.

Capsules↗

Monitoring sedation status over time in ICU patients: reliability and validity of the Richmond Agitation-Sedation Scale (RASS).

CONTEXT: Goal-directed delivery of sedative and analgesic medications is recommended as standard care in intensive care units (ICUs) because of the impact these medications have on ventilator weaning and ICU length of stay, but few of the available sedation scales have been appropriately tested for reliability and validity. OBJECTIVE: To test the reliability and validity of the Richmond Agitation-Sedation Scale (RASS). DESIGN: Prospective cohort study. SETTING: Adult medical and coronary ICUs of a university-based medical center. PARTICIPANTS: Thirty-eight medical ICU patients enrolled for reliability testing (46% receiving mechanical ventilation) from July 21, 1999, to September 7, 1999, and an independent cohort of 275 patients receiving mechanical ventilation were enrolled for validity testing from February 1, 2000, to May 3, 2001. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Interrater reliability of the RASS, Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS), and Ramsay Scale (RS); validity of the RASS correlated with reference standard ratings, assessments of content of consciousness, GCS scores, doses of sedatives and analgesics, and bispectral electroencephalography. RESULTS: In 290-paired observations by nurses, results of both the RASS and RS demonstrated excellent interrater reliability (weighted kappa, 0.91 and 0.94, respectively), which were both superior to the GCS (weighted kappa, 0.64; P<.001 for both comparisons). Criterion validity was tested in 411-paired observations in the first 96 patients of the validation cohort, in whom the RASS showed significant differences between levels of consciousness (P<.001 for all) and correctly identified fluctuations within patients over time (P<.001). In addition, 5 methods were used to test the construct validity of the RASS, including correlation with an attention screening examination (r = 0.78, P<.001), GCS scores (r = 0.91, P<.001), quantity of different psychoactive medication dosages 8 hours prior to assessment (eg, lorazepam: r = - 0.31, P<.001), successful extubation (P =.07), and bispectral electroencephalography (r = 0.63, P<.001). Face validity was demonstrated via a survey of 26 critical care nurses, which the results showed that 92% agreed or strongly agreed with the RASS scoring scheme, and 81% agreed or strongly agreed that the instrument provided a consensus for goal-directed delivery of medications. CONCLUSIONS: The RASS demonstrated excellent interrater reliability and criterion, construct, and face validity. This is the first sedation scale to be validated for its ability to detect changes in sedation status over consecutive days of ICU care, against constructs of level of consciousness and delirium, and correlated with the administered dose of sedative and analgesic medications.

Aged↗

Clinical utility of the bispectral index score when compared to the University of Michigan Sedation Scale in assessing the depth of outpatient pediatric sedation.

This single blinded observational study compared the bispectral index (BIS) monitor with a validated pediatric sedation scale, the University of Michigan Sedation Scale (UMSS), to evaluate whether the BIS score can be used to judge the depth of sedation in pediatric outpatients. Thirty-eight children, with a mean age of 5.8 years, undergoing routine sedation for both noninvasive and gastrointestinal procedures, had simultaneous BIS and UMSS scores recorded. Sedation categories were defined as light, moderate, and deep for both UMSS and BIS. There was a moderate correlation between BIS and the UMSS, Spearman's r < -0.499. The correlation was poor for children receiving chloral hydrate, r < -0.213. The BIS score was not predictive of any specific UMSS score. The UMSS and BIS categories of sedation matched only 36% of the time. BIS underestimated the clinical level of sedation.

Child↗

[Effects of infusion methods of propofol on quality of sedation and ease of sedation control during gynecological laparotomy under spinal anesthesia].

Twenty patients were prospectively and randomly studied to investigate effects of infusion methods of propofol on quality of sedation and ease of sedation control during gynecological laparotomy under spinal anesthesia. After establishment of spinal anesthesia, patients were randomly assigned to one of the following two groups, i.e. conventional continuous infusion group (Cont group) and target-controlled infusion group (TCI group). In the Cont group, propofol was started at a rate of 6 mg.kg-1.hr-1 until response to command disappeared. In the TCI group, the initial target concentration of propofol was set at 1.2 micrograms.ml-1 until response to command disappeared. Thereafter infusion rate or target concentration was adjusted to maintain Mackenzie's score at 3 or 4. Predicted concentration of propofol was 1.2 +/- 0.01 micrograms.ml-1 at induction of sedation and 1.2 +/- 0.11 micrograms.ml-1 during stable sedation in the TCI group. Satisfaction VAS, anxiety VAS, discomfort VAS, sedation score and times of changing infusion condition were similar in both groups. Total dose of propofol was significantly less in the TCI group. In conclusion, quality of sedation and ease of control of sedation were comparable in both groups and continuous infusion method is simple.

Adult↗