• Marc Martel, Ann Sterzinger, James Miner, Joseph Clinton, and Michelle Biros.
• Department of Emergency Medicine, Hennepin County Medical Center, Minneapolis, MN 55415, USA. marc.martel@co.hennepin.mn.us
• Acad Emerg Med. 2005 Dec 1;12(12):1167-72.

ObjectivesTo compare the efficacy of sedation, need for rescue sedation, rates of respiratory depression, and complications of droperidol, ziprasidone, and midazolam when used for the treatment of emergency department (ED) patients requiring sedation for acute undifferentiated agitation.MethodsA prospective, randomized, double-blind trial of agitated ED patients requiring emergent sedation was performed. Patients were randomized to receive droperidol 5 mg, ziprasidone 20 mg, or midazolam 5 mg intramuscularly. Interval measurements were made at 0, 15, 30, 45, 60, and 120 minutes and included Altered Mental Status Scale (AMS) scores, oxygen saturations, and end-tidal carbon dioxide levels.ResultsA total of 144 patients were enrolled; 50 patients received droperidol, 46 received ziprasidone, and 48 received midazolam. Adequate sedation (mean AMS score <0) was achieved at 15 minutes in patients receiving midazolam (mean AMS score, -0.81) and 30 minutes for patients receiving droperidol (mean AMS score, -1.3) and ziprasidone (mean AMS score, -0.74). Rescue medication for sedation was necessary in 38 of 144 patients (droperidol, 5 of 50; ziprasidone, 9 of 46; midazolam, 24 of 48; p < 0.05). No cardiac dysrhythmias were identified in any treatment group. Respiratory depression that clinically required treatment with supplemental oxygen occurred in 21 of 144 patients (droperidol, 4 of 50; ziprasidone, 7 of 46; midazolam, 10 of 48; p = 0.20). No patients required endotracheal intubation.ConclusionsAcutely agitated ED patients sedated with droperidol or ziprasidone required rescue medications to achieve adequate sedation less frequently than those sedated with midazolam. The onset of adequate sedation is delayed with ziprasidone, relative to the other agents.

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