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Article
Analgesia, sedation, and neuromuscular blockade during targeted temperature management after cardiac arrest.
Best practice & research. Clinical anaesthesiology
  • Richard R Riker, Maine Medical Center
  • David J Gagnon, Maine Medical Center
  • Teresa May, Maine Medical Center
  • David B Seder, Maine Medical Center
  • Gilles L Fraser, Maine Medical Center
Document Type
Article
Publication Date
1-1-2015
Institution/Department
Critical Care; Pharmacy
MeSH Headings
Analgesia, Body Temperature, Disease Management, Heart Arrest, Humans, Hypnotics and Sedatives, Hypothermia, Induced, Neuromuscular Blockade
Abstract

The approach to sedation, analgesia, and neuromuscular blockade during targeted temperature management (TTM) remains largely unstudied, forcing clinicians to adapt previous research from other patient environments. During TTM, very little data guide drug selection, doses, and specific therapeutic goals. Sedation should be deep enough to prevent awareness during neuromuscular blockade, but titration is complex as metabolism and clearance are delayed for almost all drugs during hypothermia. Deeper sedation is associated with prolonged intensive care unit (ICU) and ventilator therapy, increased delirium and infection, and delayed wakening which can confound early critical neurological assessments, potentially resulting in erroneous prognostication and inappropriate withdrawal of life support. We review the potential therapeutic goals for sedation, analgesia, and neuromuscular blockade during TTM; the adverse events associated with that treatment; data suggesting that TTM and organ dysfunction impair drug metabolism; and controversies and potential benefits of specific monitoring. We also highlight the areas needing better research to guide our therapy.

Citation Information
Richard R Riker, David J Gagnon, Teresa May, David B Seder, et al.. "Analgesia, sedation, and neuromuscular blockade during targeted temperature management after cardiac arrest." Best practice & research. Clinical anaesthesiology Vol. 29 Iss. 4 (2015) p. 435 - 450 ISSN: 1878-1608
Available at: http://works.bepress.com/david-seder/3/