Journal of pediatric intensive care
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J Pediatr Intensive Care · Sep 2019
Effectiveness of Protocolized Sedation Utilizing the COMFORT-B Scale in Mechanically Ventilated Children in a Pediatric Intensive Care Unit.
Appropriate sedation in mechanically ventilated patients is important to facilitate adequate respiratory support and maintain patient safety. However, the optimal sedation protocol for children is unclear. This study assessed the effectiveness of a sedation protocol utilizing the COMFORT-B sedation scale in reducing the duration of mechanical ventilation in children. ⋯ Also, there were no significant differences in the PICU length of stay (LOS; median 7 vs. 7 days, p = 0.59) and hospital LOS (median 18 vs. 14 days, p = 0.14) between the intervention and control groups. The percentages of sedative drugs, including fentanyl, morphine, and midazolam, in each group were not statistically different. The COMFORT-B scale with protocolized sedation in mechanically ventilated pediatric patients in the PICU did not reduce the duration of mechanical ventilation compared with usual care.