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Table 3 Level of sedation and delirium assessmenta

From: Clinical effectiveness of a sedation protocol minimizing benzodiazepine infusions and favoring early dexmedetomidine: a before-after study

Outcome

Before (n =97)

After (n =102)

P -value

Level of Sedation

   

  Percentage of RASS scores +4 to +1

5% (1 to 11)

9.5% (3 to 19)

0.001

   Percentage of RASS scores +4

0% (0 to 0)

0% (0 to 0)

 

   Percentage of RASS scores +3

0% (0 to 0)

0% (0 to 0)

   Percentage of RASS scores +2

0% (0 to 2.7)

2.3% (0 to 5.4)

   Percentage of RASS scores +1

3.7% (0.9 to 7.6)

5.3% (1.5 to 12.5)

 

  Percentage of RASS scores 0 to −2

45% (24 to 64)

48% (20 to 68)

0.789

  Percentage of RASS scores −3

30% (15 to 43)

18% (10 to 36)

0.049

  Percentage of RASS scores −4 to −5

13% (5 to 23)

9% (2 to 24)

0.154

Delirium evaluationb

   

  Number of potential evaluations

1564

1,585

  Number of evaluations performed

1,415 (90%)

1,475 (93%)

  Number of evaluations NOT performed

149 (10%)

110 (7%)

  Number deemed unassessablec

161/1,415 (11%)

262/1,475 (18%)

  Number of positive CAM-ICU assessments

693/1,415 (49%)

806/1,475 (55%)

  Number of negative CAM-ICU assessments

561/1,415 (40%)

407/1,475 (27%)

Deliriumb

  

  Delirium at any time during ICU

79 (81%)

95 (93%)

0.013

  Percentage of days with delirium

55% (18 to 83)

71% (45 to 100)

0.001

  Median number of positive CAM-ICU assessments

6 (1.5 to 11)

5.5 (3 to 12.25)

0.312

Received antipsychotic medicationd

28 (29%)

31 (30%)

0.814

  1. aCAM-ICU, Confusion Assessment Method for the intensive care unit; RASS, Richmond Agitation–Sedation Scale. bDelirium was assessed by using the CAM-ICU and was performed by the bedside nurse once per shift (every 12 hours) during the ICU stay, up to 14 days. cPatients were unassessable if RASS was −4 or −5 at the time of the evaluation. dIncludes any typical or atypical antipsychotic administered during the ICU stay, up to 14 days. All values reported are either n (%) of patients or median (IQR).