Melatonin for Delirium Prevention in Hospitalized Patients

Melatonin for Delirium Prevention in Hospitalized Patients

Melatonin/ramelteon are associated with reduction in delirium incidence in hospitalized patients. However, this effect seems confined to surgical and ICU patients. The optimum dosage and formulation of melatonin, and... read more

Mechanical Ventilation Sedation Necessary for Comfort According to Nurses

Mechanical Ventilation Sedation Necessary for Comfort According to Nurses

Nurses' attitudes toward sedating patients receiving mechanical ventilation have shifted in the past decade, with fewer nurses now believing that all patients should be sedated. However, more than half of nurses still agree... read more

Droperidol Use in the Emergency Department – What’s Old is New Again

Droperidol Use in the Emergency Department – What’s Old is New Again

Earlier this year American Reagent announced the re-introduction of droperidol back into the US market. This is bringing an old favorite back to many EM docs and a novel tool for new residents and attendings who have never... read more

Ketamine Continuous Infusion: A Reasonable Alternative to Traditional Sedatives and Analgesics?

Ketamine Continuous Infusion: A Reasonable Alternative to Traditional Sedatives and Analgesics?

Propofol, dexmedetomidine, and opioids are commonly used for patients requiring continuous sedation or analgesia, such as for those receiving mechanical ventilation. Although these medications are generally safe, some may... read more

The Emerging Role of the Microbiota in the ICU

The Emerging Role of the Microbiota in the ICU

The importance of the intestinal and lung microbiotas is often overlooked on the ICU. Currently, we can explore the microbiome using a vast array of techniques, giving us 'meta' libraries of data, which has allowed researchers... read more

Persistence of Delirium after Cessation of Sedatives and Analgesics and Impact on Clinical Outcomes in Critically Ill Patients

Persistence of Delirium after Cessation of Sedatives and Analgesics and Impact on Clinical Outcomes in Critically Ill Patients

As delirium is a common manifestation in critically ill patients and is associated with worse clinical outcomes, we sought to characterize the reversibility of delirium after discontinuation of sedation and to determine whether... read more

Potentially Modifiable Risk Factors for Long-Term Cognitive Impairment After Critical Illness

Potentially Modifiable Risk Factors for Long-Term Cognitive Impairment After Critical Illness

Long-term cognitive impairment is common in survivors of critical illness. Little is known about the etiology of this serious complication. We sought to summarize current scientific knowledge about potentially modifiable... read more

New Warning for Anesthetic Use in Children and Pregnant Women

New Warning for Anesthetic Use in Children and Pregnant Women

The FDA issued a warning that repeated or lengthy use of general anesthetics and sedatives during surgeries or procedures in children aged <3 years or in pregnant women during their 3rd trimester may affect the development... read more