Developing and Testing a Sedation Protocol for Adults Receiving ECMO Support in Intensive Care

What this Trial Is About

Researchers are studying sedation practices for adults in intensive care units ICU who are receiving extracorporeal membrane oxygenation ECMO, a life support technique for severe heart or lung failure. This research aims to describe current sedation use in ECMO patients compared to non-ECMO critically ill patients in the UK and develop a sedation protocol co-designed with patients, family members, and healthcare staff. The goal is to improve comfort and reduce long-term problems like anxiety, memory issues, and mobility difficulties seen in ECMO survivors. The study has two parts. First, an observational study will collect detailed data on sedation drugs, doses, pain and sedation scores, and patient outcomes for ECMO and non-ECMO ICU patients. This will include gathering information from multiple UK ECMO centers. In the second part, the investigators will develop a sedation protocol based on input from patients, family, and staff, then assess its acceptability and safety through interviews and questionnaires with healthcare professionals and ECMO survivors. Participants will be involved through data collection of sedation use and patient outcomes during ICU stays, and through interviews and surveys that explore the acceptability of the new sedation protocol. Researchers will monitor outcomes like ICU mortality and length of stay, as well as sedation and delirium assessments. The study will run until August 2027, with findings shared through various channels to inform future sedation practices in ECMO care.

Improving Sedation Practice in Critically Ill Adult Patients Using a Co-designed Sedation Protocol