• E Abraham, P J Papadakos, R S Tharratt, J B Hall, and G J Williams.
• University of Colorado Health Sciences Center, Division of Pulmonary Sciences and Critical Care Medicine, Denver 80262, USA. edward.abraham@uchsc.edu
• Intensive Care Med. 2000 Jan 1;26 Suppl 4:S422-32.

ObjectiveTo determine whether the addition of disodium edetate (EDTA) to propofol significantly alters mineral metabolism, adverse events, and outcome in critically ill medical patients with acute pulmonary dysfunction.DesignMulticentre, double-randomised, double-blind, comparative trial.SettingMedical intensive care units of 5 health centres.PatientsA total of 85 haemodynamically stable men and women aged 18-81 years who had pulmonary dysfunction or adult respiratory distress syndrome as a primary diagnosis or complication and who were expected to require at least 48 hours of sedation and mechanical ventilation.InterventionsPatients were randomised to receive propofol with or without EDTA and then to 1 of 2 sedation levels: light (Modified Ramsay Sedation Scale [MRSS] score of 2 to 3) or deep (MRSS score of 4 to 5). Propofol was administered by continuous infusion at an initial rate of 5 microg/kg per min and titrated as needed.Measurements And ResultsApproximately 63 % of patients had a high severity of illness as indicated by an Acute Physiology and Chronic Health Evaluation II score > or = 19. As expected, these patients had a higher mortality rate but did not require a higher dose of propofol or propofol with EDTA. Extensive evaluation of cation homeostasis showed that ionised calcium and magnesium concentrations remained remarkably stable during treatment. Total calcium concentration was low as a result of hypoalbuminemia. Parathyroid hormone (PTH) concentration was elevated in both study groups at baseline, on day 4, and at the end of sedation. There were no significant differences in electrolyte levels and no progression to renal dysfunction. There were also no significant differences in haemodynamic or adverse-event profiles. Treatment-related adverse events occurred in 5 patients in each group; 4 of these (in 3 patients receiving propofol and 1 patient receiving propofol with EDTA) were considered serious. Because a large percentage of patients experienced a change in sedation level, no analyses were performed using sedation level.ConclusionsThe addition of EDTA to propofol does not alter calcium and magnesium homeostasis in critically ill patients with acute pulmonary dysfunction. The reason for the elevation in PTH concentrations in such patients is not known.

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