Lorazepam for ICU sedation

A double-blind, randomized comparison of i.v. lorazepam versus midazolam for sedation of ICU patients via a pharmacologic model.

BACKGROUND Benzodiazepines, such as lorazepam and midazolam, are frequently administered to surgical intensive care unit (ICU) patients for postoperative sedation. To date, the pharmacology of lorazepam in critically ill patients has not been described. The aim of the current study was to characterize and compare the pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics of lorazepam and midazolam administered ...

Dexmedetomidine sedation in ICU

Dexmedetomidine (DEX), a highly selective α(2)-adrenergic receptor agonist, is the newest agent introduced for sedation in intensive care unit (ICU). The sedation strategy for critically ill patients has stressed light sedation with daily awakening and assessment for neurologic, cognitive, and respiratory functions, since Society of Critical Care Medicine (SCCM) guidelines were presented in 200...

Continuous infusion oral lorazepam for patients in the ICU.

1 Kern DC, Neill MA, Wrenn DS, Varone JC. Investigation of a unique time-space cluster of sarcoidosis in firefighters. Am Rev Respir Dis 1993; 148:974-80 2 Crayston IF, Campbell LA, Kuo CC, Mordhorst CH, Saikku P, Thom DH, et al A new respiratory tract pathogen: Chiamydia pneumoniae strain TWAR. J Infect Dis 1990; 161:618-25 S Hammerschlag MR. Chlamydia pneumoniae infections [letter] Pediatr In...

Sedation in the ICU: Shifts and Strategies

Sedation and neuromuscular blockade in the ICU.

A the key innovations of critical care medicine is treatment directed by continuously measured objective physiologic data. A prime example is the dosing of vasopressors using continuous measurements of systemic arterial pressure acquired from an indwelling arterial catheter. Similarly, the settings of mechanical ventilators are based on pressure and volume measurements of airway gases and arter...