The purpose of this randomized clinical trial is to test the efficacy of dexmedetomidine for the self-management of sedative therapy (SMST) in a sample of critically ill patients receiving mechanical ventilator support. The investigators hypothesis is that self-management of sedative therapy by mechanically ventilated patients in the intensive care unit (ICU), tailored to their individual needs will be more efficacious than nurse-administered sedative therapy in reducing anxiety, which may reduce duration of mechanical ventilator support and occurrence of delirium.
The overall objective of this study is to demonstrate efficacy for conducting a future, pragmatic effectiveness trial to test whether self-management of sedative therapy (SMST) is superior to nurse-administered sedative therapy in day-to-day intensive care unit (ICU) practice. This efficacy trial is powered for the investigators primary, clinically relevant endpoints (anxiety, duration of mechanical ventilation, and delirium presence), and examines patient outcomes adversely affected by sedative administration practices, such as prolonged ICU stays, altered mental status, and diminished post-ICU quality of life. This randomized clinical trial with a total of 190 mechanically ventilated patients enrolled and maintained on protocol will address the following Specific Aims. The primary aim is to determine the efficacy of SMST compared to nurse-administered sedative therapy on anxiety, duration of mechanical ventilation, and presence of delirium in mechanically ventilated patients (MVPs). The secondary aim is to compare level of arousal and sedative exposure in mechanically ventilated patients (MVPs) randomized to SMST to those MVPs receiving nurse-administered sedative therapy. The investigators hypothesize that SMST patients will be easily arousable, more alert, and exposed to less sedation than those who receive nurse-administered sedative therapy. Exploratory aims are to compare post-ICU outcomes (physical/functional status, psychological well-being, and health-related quality of life) and recall of ICU experiences between MVPs randomized to SMST and those receiving nurse-administered sedative therapy.
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Purpose
TREATMENT
Masking
NONE
Enrollment
161
Patient will receive a maintenance intravenous infusion of medication (Dexmedetomidine) and have access to self-controlled sedation medication (Dexmedetomidine) for anxiety.
School of Medicine, University of Minnesota
Minneapolis, Minnesota, United States
Mayo Clinic in Rochester
Rochester, Minnesota, United States
Anxiety Rating Using the 100mm Vertical Visual Analog Scale
Vertical visual analog scale will be used to measure level of state anxiety from 0/zero (no anxiety) to 100 (most anxiety ever). Higher scores mean more anxiety.
Time frame: 7 days
Duration of Mechanical Ventilatory Support After Study Enrollment
Duration of time (hours) patients received mechanical ventilatory support after randomization to either Control or dexmedetomidine self-management of sedative therapy to extubation.
Time frame: 7 days
Incidence of Delirium Using the Confusion Assessment Method-ICU (CAM-ICU)
Confusion Assessment Method-ICU (CAM-ICU) used to assess for the presence (CAM-ICU+) or absence (CAM-ICU-) of delirium at each assessment.
Time frame: 7 days
Comparison of Level of Arousal and Agitation Using the Richmond Agitation-Sedation Scale (RASS)
The Richmond Agitation-Sedation Scale (RASS) was used to assess the level of alertness and agitation in enrolled patients. Scores range from -5 to +4. RASS 0/zero indicates alert and calm patient. Negative scores (-1 to -5) indicate increasing level of sedation with -5 indicating unarousable. Positive scores indicate increasing agitation (+1 to +4) with +4 indicating a combative patient. For enrolled study patients, RASS score -2 (light sedation) to +1 (restless) was considered in range. We report here the total number of patients assessed as outside the desirable range of RASS score -5 to -3 and +2 to +4 by each ICU study day.
Time frame: 7 days
Comparison of Daily Sedation Intensity Each ICU Study Day Using Electronic Health Record Medication Data of Any of Nine Intravenous Sedative Medications Administered to Patients.
Sedation intensity combines the number of sedative doses and the dose amount of any of 9 intravenous (IV) sedative medications (lorazepam, midazolam, propofol, morphine, hydromorphone, dexmedetomidine, fentanyl, haloperidol, ketamine) recorded in the electronic health record, summarized over all patients and time periods each day to obtain medians and quartiles. Each of the 9 sedative drugs administered during each 4-hr period is then assigned a ranking: 0 for drug not used, 1 for the bottom quartile, 2 for the second quartile, 3 for the third, and 4 for the fourth. A score is determined by summing for the 24-hr day over the 6, 4-hour blocks to produce a daily Sedation Intensity Score from 0-36, higher score more intense dosing received of sedative medications.
Time frame: Daily Sedation intensity over a 7-day ICU study protocol period
Comparison of Daily Sedation Frequency Using Electronic Health Record Medication Data of Any of Nine Intravenous Sedative Medications Administered to Patients.
Sedation Frequency is the number of individual intravenous (IV) sedative medication(s) doses administered to patients over each 24-hour day of lorazepam, midazolam, propofol, morphine, hydromorphone, dexmedetomidine, fentanyl, haloperidol, ketamine. Sedation frequency ranges from 0-216 with a higher number indicating more frequent receipt of a sedative medication(s).
Time frame: Daily Sedation Frequency over a 7-day ICU study protocol period
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