Dexmedetomidine vs. haloperidol in delirious, agitated, intubated patients: a randomised open-label trial.

ABSTRACT:

Introduction

Agitated delirium is common in patients undergoing mechanical ventilation, and is often treated with haloperidol despite concerns about safety and efficacy. Use of conventional sedatives to control agitation can preclude extubation. Dexmedetomidine, a novel sedative and anxiolytic agent, may have particular utility in these patients. We sought to compare the efficacy of haloperidol and dexmedetomidine in facilitating extubation.

Methods

We conducted a randomised, open-label, parallel-groups pilot trial in the medical and surgical intensive care unit of a university hospital. Twenty patients undergoing mechanical ventilation in whom extubation was not possible solely because of agitated delirium were randomised to receive an infusion of either haloperidol 0.5 to

SUBMITTER: Reade MC 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC2717438 | biostudies-literature | 2009

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature