The Emergency Department Sedation Pilot Trial (ED SED Pilot)

The ED-SED Pilot is a multicenter, prospective, before-and-after study conducted on 344 mechanically ventilated emergency department patients at three academic medical centers: Washington University in St. Louis School of Medicine (St. Louis, MO), Cooper Hospital of Rowan University (Camden, NJ), and University of Iowa Carver College of Medicine (Iowa City, IA). The overall goal is to assess the feasibility of implementing targeted sedation (in terms of sedation depth) for mechanically ventilated ED patients in order to reduce the incidence of unnecessary deep sedation and improve clinical outcomes.

The ED-SED Pilot is a multicenter, prospective, before-and-after study conducted on 344 mechanically ventilated ED patients at three academic medical centers. Patients in the before phase of the study will receive usual care after the initiation of mechanical ventilation. After 172 patients have been enrolled in the before phase, the investigators will begin educational initiatives to implement ED-based sedation protocols and order sets. The research team will educate providers on the importance of sedation protocols on patient outcome so that the existing protocols begin to be used effectively in the ED. This educational initiative will allow targeted sedation to be effectively used in the ED as well, allowing the intervention to be tested under real-world conditions. Participants in the after phase will also receive standard post-intubation care at the discretion of the treating team, though it will be after the educational initiative aimed at improving post-intubation sedation. In order to more effectively use sedation in the ED, the investigators will collect voluntary and anonymous surveys from ED nurses and physicians to assess the potential facilitators and barriers to adherence to guideline-recommended sedation.

Mechanically ventilated emergency department patients receiving standard post-intubation sedation prior to an educational initiative on the importance of ED-based targeted sedation

Mechanically ventilated emergency department patients receiving post-intubation sedation after an educational initiative aimed at improving sedation practices in the ED

Nurses and physicians will be engaged regarding the clinical outcome data on the importance of ED-based sedation, and the objectives of the research. Education will include in-services and lectures focused on the importance of sedation protocols on patient outcome. The use of sedation will be evaluated throughout the study in order to better understand providers' perception of and experience with ED-based sedation protocols.

Deep sedation defined as RASS of -3 to -5 Measure of Sedation via RASS. Scale: +4 Combative, +3 Very agitated, +2 Agitated, +1 Restless, 0 Alert and Calm, -1 Drowsy, -2 Light sedation, -3 Moderate sedation, -4 Deep sedation, -5 Unarousable

Interrater correlation coeficient. These were paired observations between study team members and ED nurses. It reflects the degree of agreement between independent observers.

Inadvertent extubation, inadvertent device removal (e.g. central venous catheter, urinary catheter), awareness with paralysis events

To define, ventilator-free days equal: 1) 0 if patient dies within 28 days of mechanical ventilation; 2) 28 - x if successfully liberated from mechanical ventilation 'x' days after intubation; or 3) 0 if mechanical ventilation duration exceeds 28 days.

To define, ICU-free days equal: 1) 0 if patient dies within 28 days of ICU admission; 2) 28 - x if successfully discharged from the ICU 'x' days after admission to the ICU; or 3) 0 if ICU length of stay exceeds 28 days.

To define, hospital-free days equal: 1) 0 if patient dies within 28 days of hospital admission; 2) 28 - x if successfully discharged from the hospital 'x' days after admission to the hospital; or 3) 0 if hospital length of stay exceeds 28 days.

Inclusion Criteria: Mechanical ventilation via an endotracheal tube. Age ≥ 18 years. Exclusion Criteria: Acute neurologic injury (stroke, intracranial hemorrhage, traumatic brain injury, cardiac arrest, status epilepticus, fulminant hepatic failure). Ongoing neuromuscular blockade. Death or transition to comfort measures within 24 hours. Transfer to another hospital from the ED. Chronic/home mechanical ventilation. Transfer directly from the ED to the operating room.

Sharing of data generated by this trial is an important part of the proposed activities. Data will be shared with other investigators through academically established means, as necessary and appropriate. Datasets generated from the trial will be available from the overall study principal investigator on reasonable request. Collaboration with others investigators is encouraged. The results will be disseminated via publication in a peer-reviewed journal and presentation at national meetings.

Fuller BM, Pappal RD, Mohr NM, Roberts BW, Faine B, Yeary J, Sewatsky T, Johnson NJ, Driver BE, Ablordeppey E, Drewry AM, Wessman BT, Yan Y, Kollef MH, Carpenter CR, Avidan MS. Awareness With Paralysis Among Critically Ill Emergency Department Patients: A Prospective Cohort Study. Crit Care Med. 2022 Oct 1;50(10):1449-1460. doi: 10.1097/CCM.0000000000005626. Epub 2022 Jul 21.

Fuller BM, Roberts BW, Mohr NM, Pappal RD, Stephens RJ, Yan Y, Carpenter C, Kollef MH, Avidan MS. A study protocol for a multicentre, prospective, before-and-after trial evaluating the feasibility of implementing targeted SEDation after initiation of mechanical ventilation in the emergency department (The ED-SED Pilot Trial). BMJ Open. 2020 Dec 16;10(12):e041987. doi: 10.1136/bmjopen-2020-041987.