OBJECTIVETo compare the efficacy and safety of different analgesic and sedative treatments in children with mechanical ventilation in the pediatric intensive care unit (PICU).

METHODSEighty children with mechanical ventilation in the PICU who needed analgesic and sedative treatments were equally and randomly divided into midazolam group and remifentanil+midazolam group. The sedative and analgesic effects were assessed using the Ramsay Scale and the Face, Legs, Activity, Cry and Consolability (FLACC) Scale. The following indices were recorded for the two groups: vital signs, ventilator parameters, organ function, total doses of remifentanil and midazolam, duration of mechanical ventilation, length of PICU stay, PICU cost, and incidence of adverse events.

RESULTSSatisfactory sedation was achieved in the two groups, but the remifentanil+midazolam group had a significantly shorter time to analgesia and sedation than the midazolam group. The remifentanil+midazolam group had a significantly higher percentage of patients with grade 3-4 on the Ramsay Scale and a significantly lower dose of midazolam than the midazolam group (P<0.05). Both groups showed decreases in heart rate (HR), mean arterial pressure (MAP), and spontaneous breathing frequency (RRs) after treatment. However, the remifentanil+midazolam group had significantly greater decreases in HR at 3-24 hours after treatment and MAP and RRs at 3-12 hours after treatment than the midazolam group (P<0.05). Compared with the midazolam group, the remifentanil+midazolam group had significantly higher ventilator tidal volume and transcutaneous oxygen saturation at 6 and 12 hours after treatment and significantly lower end-tidal carbon dioxide partial pressure at 6 and 12 hours after treatment (P<0.05). The remifentanil+midazolam group had significantly shorter time to awake, extubation time, duration of mechanical ventilation, and length of PICU stay than the midazolam group (P<0.05). There were no significant differences in PICU cost, incidence of adverse events, and hepatic and renal functions before and after treatment between the two groups (P>0.05). Both groups showed a significant decrease in fasting blood glucose level after treatment (P<0.05).

CONCLUSIONSFor children with mechanical ventilation in the PICU, remifentanil+midazolam treatment can rapidly achieve analgesia and sedation, improve the effect of mechanical ventilation, and reduce the dose of sedative compared with midazolam alone, and is well tolerated.