Safety and efficacy of analgesia-based sedation with remifentanil versus standard hypnotic-based regimens in intensive care unit patients with brain injuries: a randomised, controlled trial [ISRCTN50308308]

Table 4 Sedation and pain control during the treatment period

Parameter	Remifentanil (n = 84)	Fentanyl (n = 37)	Morphine (n = 40)
Optimal sedation (SAS = 1–3)
Percentage hours, median (range)	95.6 (15–100)	98.1 (87–100)	99.0 (0–100)
Median difference (95% CI)		-2.36 (-4.4, -1.0)	-2.30 (-4.2, -0.9)
P^a		<0.001	<0.001
No pain or mild pain
Percentage hours, median (range)	99.3 (72–100)	99.7 (79–100)	99.2 (15–100)
Median difference (95% CI)		0.0 (-0.5, 0.0)	0.0 (-0.4, 0.3)
P^a		0.495	0.928
Moderate pain
Percentage hours, median (range)	0.4 (0–28)	0.0 (0–5)	0.1 (0–9)
Median difference (95% CI)		0.0 (0.0, 0.4)	0.0 (0.0, 0.2)
P^a		0.154	0.647
Severe, very severe or worst possible pain
Percentage hours, median (range)	0.0 (0–3)	0.0 (0–1)	0.0 (0–4)
Median difference (95% CI)		0.0 (0.0, 0.0)	0.0 (0.0, 0.0)
P^a		0.111	0.963

CI, confidence interval; SAS, Sedation–Agitation Scale. ^aValue for treatment difference (remifentanil versus comparator).

ISSN: 1364-8535