Plasma catecholamine concentration during sedation in ventilated patients requiring intensive therapy

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Abstract
The effects of isoflurane and midazolam sedation on the catecholamine responses of ventilated patients were studied over a 24-h period. Sixty ventilated patients admitted to our intensive therapy unit were allocated randomly to receive either isoflurane or midazolam sedation. Arterial blood samples for plasma catecholamine concentrations were taken at baseline, 6h after starting sedation and at the end of the study period. Patients sedated with isoflurane showed a progressive reduction in both adrenaline and noradrenaline concentrations during the period of sedation which reached statistical significance for adrenaline at 6h (pp<0.001). Patients sedated with midazolam showed no significant changes of adrenaline or noradrenaline concentrations. Overall, a more satisfactory degree of sedation was achieved with isoflurane.