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Analgesia and Sedation Strategies in Mechanically Ventilated Adults with COVID‐19
Author(s) -
Adams Christopher D.,
Altshuler Jerry,
Barlow Brooke L.,
Dixit Deepali,
Droege Christopher A.,
Effendi Muhammad K.,
Heavner Mojdeh S.,
Johnston Jackie P.,
Kiskaddon Amy L.,
Lemieux Diana G.,
Lemieux Steven M.,
Littlefield Audrey J.,
Owusu Kent A,
Rouse Ginger E.,
Thompson Bastin Melissa L.,
Berger Karen
Publication year - 2020
Publication title -
pharmacotherapy: the journal of human pharmacology and drug therapy
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.227
H-Index - 109
eISSN - 1875-9114
pISSN - 0277-0008
DOI - 10.1002/phar.2471
Subject(s) - sedation , medicine , sedative , intensive care medicine , anesthesia , mechanical ventilation , guideline , covid-19 , analgesic , dexmedetomidine , disease , pathology , infectious disease (medical specialty)
Evidence‐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 analgesia 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. Alternative 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 with considerable ventilator dyssynchrony and sedation requirements, such as COVID‐19.