Record Status
This is a critical abstract of an economic evaluation that meets the criteria for inclusion on NHS EED. Each abstract contains a brief summary of the methods, the results and conclusions followed by a detailed critical assessment on the reliability of the study and the conclusions drawn.
Health technology
This article compared an analgesia-based sedation regimen with remifentanil and propofol versus a conventional regimen with midazolam and fentanyl in patients requiring postoperative mechanical ventilation in the intensive care unit (ICU) following cardiac surgery. Remifentanil was administered at 6 to 12 microg/kg per hour, or up to a maximum of 60 microg/kg per hour. Propofol supplementation, where required, was given at 0.3 to 1.0 mg/kg per hour, or up to a maximum of 4 mg/kg per hour. The conventional midazolam/fentanyl regimen comprised an initial dose of fentanyl of 1 to 2 microg/kg, followed by a dose of 1 to 2 microg/kg per hour (or up to a maximum of 7 microg/kg per hour) plus an initial dose of 0.03 to 0.2 mg/kg midazolam.