Sedation breaks: are they good for the critically ill patient? A review

Authors: Pinder, Sally1; Christensen, Martin
Source: Nursing in Critical Care, Volume 13, Number 2, March and April 2008 , pp. 64-70(7)

Abstract:Background: 
Tradition has led us to believe that a heavily sedated patient is a comfortable, settled, compliant patient for whom sedation will improve outcome. The current move witnessed in clinical practice today of limiting sedation has led health care in recent years to question the benefit and necessity of routine, continuous sedation for all patients requiring mechanical ventilation. However, as a result there has been a rise in the amount of agitation being reported as being experienced by patients with the daily withdrawal of sedation.