Sedation in mechanically ventilated patients with COVID-19

Type Journal Article Author Valerie Page URL https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lanres/article/PIIS2213-2600(20)30570-1/abstract Series Comment Volume 9 Issue 3 Pages 218-219 Publication The Lancet Respiratory Medicine ISSN 2213-2600, 2213-2619 Date 08/01/2021 Extra Publisher: Elsevier PMID: 33428873 Journal Abbr The Lancet Respiratory Medicine DOI 10.1016/S2213-2600(20)30570-1 Library Catalog www.thelancet.com Language English Abstract Delirium in critical illness represents a considerable burden for individual patients, their family members, health-care services, and society. In the past decade, a number of initiatives have been launched with some success in the UK and internationally, with the aim of educating and challenging clinicians to improve sedation practice.1,2 Less sedation results in lower delirium prevalence, and lower prevalence of delirium is associated with better patient outcomes.3,4 The Pan American and Iberian Federation of Critical Medicine and Intensive Therapy, German, and US sedation guidelines all recommend mechanically ventilated patients are kept awake or easily aroused, with effective pain control.