A Study on the Use of Sedatives, Analgesics & Muscle relaxant for Mechanically Ventilated Patients

ABSTRACT

The purpose of this study was to investigate the administration pattern of sedatives, analgesics, and muscle relaxants for mechanically ventilated patients. The subjects of this descriptive study were 21 adult patients who received mechanical ventilation therapy more than 3 days in SICU. The results of this study are as follows 1. The mean age of the subjects was 52 years old. Ten out of 21 subjects were female and 11 patients were male. 2. The 13 different drugs were prescribed for the patients. There were 325 total doses administered for 3 days to these patients. Most frequently used medication was midazolam. On average, the patients were received 2.5 different drugs. 3. The number of administered drug and the frequency of administration differed depending on the type of surgery which the patients had undergone. 4. Examination on the administration pattern of midazolam revealed that patients received midazolam by continuous intravenous infusion (19%), by intermittent intravenous injection (33%), and by both continuous and intermittent method (19%). 5. About 42% of patients received neuromuscular blocking agents with sedatives or analgesics. None of them was given paralytic agents without sedatives or analgesics. Future study should be focused on the evaluation of the adequacy of current practice for sedation and paralysis in terms of the patient's response.