Journal for specialists in pediatric nursing : JSPN
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J Spec Pediatr Nurs · Jul 2020
A nurse-driven analgesia and sedation protocol reduces length of PICU stay and cumulative dose of benzodiazepines after corrective surgery for tetralogy of Fallot.
Analgesia and sedation protocols are reported to reduce the requirement of sedative and analgesic agents, duration of mechanical ventilation, and length of pediatric intensive care unit (PICU) stay. However, these studies often were conducted based on inhomogeneous cohorts. The aim of this study was the evaluation of a nurse-driven analgesia and sedation protocol in a homogenous population of infants following corrective surgery for tetralogy of Fallot (TOF). ⋯ The implementation of a nurse-driven analgesia and sedation protocol is safe in infants following corrective surgery for TOF. It reduces significantly the length of PICU stay, cumulative and peak doses of midazolam and peak doses of morphine.