Analgesia and Sedation Strategies in Mechanically Ventilated Adults with COVID ‐19

AbstractEvidence ‐based management of analgesia and sedation in COVID‐19‐associated acute respiratory distress syndrome remains limited. Non‐guideline recommended analgesic and sedative medication regimens and deeper sedation targets have been employed for patients with COVID‐19 due to exaggerated analgesi a and sedation requirements with extended durations of mechanical ventilation. This, coupled with a desire to minimize nurse entry into COVID‐19 patient rooms, marked obesity, altered end‐organ function, and evolving medication shortages, presents numerous short‐ and long‐term challenges. Al ternative analgesic and sedative agents and regimens may pose safety risks and require judicious bedside management for appropriate use. The purpose of this commentary is to provide considerations and solutions for designing safe and effective analgesia and sedation strategies for adult patients wit h considerable ventilator dyssynchrony and sedation requirements, such as COVID‐19.

Source: Pharmacotherapy: The Journal of Human Pharmacology and Drug Therapy - October 17, 2020 Category: Drugs & Pharmacology Authors: Christopher D. Adams, Jerry Altshuler, Brooke L. Barlow, Deepali Dixit, Christopher A. Droege, Muhammad K. Effendi, Mojdeh S. Heavner, Jackie P. Johnston, Amy L. Kiskaddon, Diana Lemieux, Steven M. Lemieux, Audrey J. Littlefield, Kent A Owusu, Tags: INVITED COMMENTARY Source Type: research