Awakening-Breathing Coordination, Delirium Monitoring/Management & Early Mobility (ABCDE) Protocol

ICU Delirium Clinical Trial

— ABCDE  

Official title:

Awakening-Breathing Coordination, Delirium Monitoring/Management & Early Mobility (ABCDE) Protocol

Clinical Trial Details — Status: Completed

Administrative data

• NCT number: NCT01413009
• Other study ID #: 0590-10-FB
• Status: Completed
• Start date: December 29, 2010
• Est. completion date: June 1, 2013

Study information

• Verified date: September 2023
• Source: University of Nebraska
• Contact: n/a
• Is FDA regulated: No
• Study type: Observational

Clinical Trial Summary

Fully two-thirds of ICU patients develop delirium, which is associated with longer stays, billions of dollars in costs globally, and 3-fold excess mortality at 6 months. Over one-half of ICU survivors suffer a functionally debilitating dementia-like illness, which appears related to delirium duration. This study will focus on applying Awakening-Breathing Coordination, Delirium Monitoring/Management & Early Mobility (ABCDE), a program of delirium screening, prevention, and treatment developed at Vanderbilt University. Specifically, the study will implement the ABCDE program in a medical center that does not currently perform routine ICU delirium screenings and identify facilitators and barriers to program adoption; test the impact of the ABCDE program on patient outcomes, nursing quality outcomes, and system outcomes; and assess the extent to which ABCDE implementation is effective, sustainable, and conducive to dissemination into other settings.

Description:

We face a profound and emerging public health problem in the form of acute and chronic brain dysfunction among young and elderly intensive care unit (ICU) survivors that is altering the landscape of society. Fully two-thirds of ICU patients develop delirium, which is associated with longer stays, billions of dollars in costs globally, and 3-fold excess mortality at 6 months. Over one-half of ICU survivors suffer a functionally debilitating dementia-like illness, which appears related to delirium duration. The impact on a person's life is often devastating. The main goal of the proposed INQRI project is to implement, analyze, and disseminate an evidence-based, nurse-led, inter-professional, multi-component program focused on improving the care and outcomes of critically ill adults. The study will focus on applying Awakening-Breathing Coordination, Delirium Monitoring/Management & Early Mobility (ABCDE), a program of delirium screening, prevention, and treatment developed at Vanderbilt University. The ABCDE approach analyzes and merges the best available evidence related to delirium, analgesia, and sedation (DAS) management in the ICU and tailors the pharmacologic and nonpharmacologic interventions used in prior DAS clinical trials into a program that can be adopted into practice in less "research focused" ICUs. Specifically, the study aims are to (1) implement the ABCDE program in a medical center that does not currently perform routine ICU delirium screenings and identify facilitators and barriers to program adoption; (2) test the impact of the ABCDE program on patient outcomes, nursing quality outcomes, and system outcomes; and (3) assess the extent to which ABCDE implementation is effective, sustainable, and conducive to dissemination into other settings.

Recruitment information / eligibility

• Status: Completed
• Enrollment: 200
• Est. completion date: June 1, 2013
• Est. primary completion date: April 1, 2012
• Accepts healthy volunteers: No
• Gender: All
• Age group: 19 Years and older

Eligibility

Inclusion Criteria:

• Greater than or equal to 19 years of age

• Patients at the University of Nebraska Medical Center and the Nebraska Medical Center

• Admitted to either the academic medical or trauma critical care service

Exclusion Criteria:

• Legally authorized representative not available to provide consent to participate within 48 hours of ICU admission

Related Conditions & MeSH terms

• Delirium
• ICU Delirium
• Immobility

Locations

Country	Name	City	State
United States	University of Nebraska Medical Center	Omaha	Nebraska

Sponsors (2)

Lead Sponsor	Collaborator
University of Nebraska	Robert Wood Johnson Foundation

Country where clinical trial is conducted

United States, 

References & Publications (70)

Arias-Rivera S, Sanchez-Sanchez Mdel M, Santos-Diaz R, Gallardo-Murillo J, Sanchez-Izquierdo R, Frutos-Vivar F, Ferguson ND, Esteban A. Effect of a nursing-implemented sedation protocol on weaning outcome. Crit Care Med. 2008 Jul;36(7):2054-60. doi: 10.1097/CCM.0b013e31817bfd60. — View Citation

Balas MC, Happ MB, Yang W, Chelluri L, Richmond T. Outcomes Associated With Delirium in Older Patients in Surgical ICUs. Chest. 2009 Jan;135(1):18-25. doi: 10.1378/chest.08-1456. Epub 2008 Nov 18. — View Citation

Barsuk JH, Cohen ER, Feinglass J, McGaghie WC, Wayne DB. Use of simulation-based education to reduce catheter-related bloodstream infections. Arch Intern Med. 2009 Aug 10;169(15):1420-3. doi: 10.1001/archinternmed.2009.215. — View Citation

Brook AD, Ahrens TS, Schaiff R, Prentice D, Sherman G, Shannon W, Kollef MH. Effect of a nursing-implemented sedation protocol on the duration of mechanical ventilation. Crit Care Med. 1999 Dec;27(12):2609-15. doi: 10.1097/00003246-199912000-00001. — View Citation

Burns KE, Lellouche F, Loisel F, Slutsky AS, Meret A, Smith O, Saskin R, Meade M. Weaning critically ill adults from invasive mechanical ventilation: a national survey. Can J Anaesth. 2009 Aug;56(8):567-76. doi: 10.1007/s12630-009-9124-8. Epub 2009 Jul 7. — View Citation

Calvin AO, Frazier L, Cohen MZ. Examining older adults' perceptions of health care providers: identifying important aspects of older adults' relationships with physicians and nurses. J Gerontol Nurs. 2007 May;33(5):6-12. doi: 10.3928/00989134-20070501-03. — View Citation

Chanques G, Jaber S, Barbotte E, Violet S, Sebbane M, Perrigault PF, Mann C, Lefrant JY, Eledjam JJ. Impact of systematic evaluation of pain and agitation in an intensive care unit. Crit Care Med. 2006 Jun;34(6):1691-9. doi: 10.1097/01.CCM.0000218416.62457.56. — View Citation

Charlson ME, Pompei P, Ales KL, MacKenzie CR. A new method of classifying prognostic comorbidity in longitudinal studies: development and validation. J Chronic Dis. 1987;40(5):373-83. doi: 10.1016/0021-9681(87)90171-8. — View Citation

Cook DA, Levinson AJ, Garside S, Dupras DM, Erwin PJ, Montori VM. Internet-based learning in the health professions: a meta-analysis. JAMA. 2008 Sep 10;300(10):1181-96. doi: 10.1001/jama.300.10.1181. — View Citation

Damschroder LJ, Aron DC, Keith RE, Kirsh SR, Alexander JA, Lowery JC. Fostering implementation of health services research findings into practice: a consolidated framework for advancing implementation science. Implement Sci. 2009 Aug 7;4:50. doi: 10.1186/1748-5908-4-50. — View Citation

Dubois MJ, Bergeron N, Dumont M, Dial S, Skrobik Y. Delirium in an intensive care unit: a study of risk factors. Intensive Care Med. 2001 Aug;27(8):1297-304. doi: 10.1007/s001340101017. — View Citation

Ely EW, Baker AM, Dunagan DP, Burke HL, Smith AC, Kelly PT, Johnson MM, Browder RW, Bowton DL, Haponik EF. Effect on the duration of mechanical ventilation of identifying patients capable of breathing spontaneously. N Engl J Med. 1996 Dec 19;335(25):1864-9. doi: 10.1056/NEJM199612193352502. — View Citation

Ely EW, Gautam S, Margolin R, Francis J, May L, Speroff T, Truman B, Dittus R, Bernard R, Inouye SK. The impact of delirium in the intensive care unit on hospital length of stay. Intensive Care Med. 2001 Dec;27(12):1892-900. doi: 10.1007/s00134-001-1132-2. Epub 2001 Nov 8. — View Citation

Ely EW, Inouye SK, Bernard GR, Gordon S, Francis J, May L, Truman B, Speroff T, Gautam S, Margolin R, Hart RP, Dittus R. Delirium in mechanically ventilated patients: validity and reliability of the confusion assessment method for the intensive care unit (CAM-ICU). JAMA. 2001 Dec 5;286(21):2703-10. doi: 10.1001/jama.286.21.2703. — View Citation

Ely EW, Shintani A, Truman B, Speroff T, Gordon SM, Harrell FE Jr, Inouye SK, Bernard GR, Dittus RS. Delirium as a predictor of mortality in mechanically ventilated patients in the intensive care unit. JAMA. 2004 Apr 14;291(14):1753-62. doi: 10.1001/jama.291.14.1753. — View Citation

Ely EW, Truman B, Shintani A, Thomason JW, Wheeler AP, Gordon S, Francis J, Speroff T, Gautam S, Margolin R, Sessler CN, Dittus RS, Bernard GR. Monitoring sedation status over time in ICU patients: reliability and validity of the Richmond Agitation-Sedation Scale (RASS). JAMA. 2003 Jun 11;289(22):2983-91. doi: 10.1001/jama.289.22.2983. — View Citation

Esteban A, Alia I, Gordo F, Fernandez R, Solsona JF, Vallverdu I, Macias S, Allegue JM, Blanco J, Carriedo D, Leon M, de la Cal MA, Taboada F, Gonzalez de Velasco J, Palazon E, Carrizosa F, Tomas R, Suarez J, Goldwasser RS. Extubation outcome after spontaneous breathing trials with T-tube or pressure support ventilation. The Spanish Lung Failure Collaborative Group. Am J Respir Crit Care Med. 1997 Aug;156(2 Pt 1):459-65. doi: 10.1164/ajrccm.156.2.9610109. Erratum In: Am J Respir Crit Care Med 1997 Dec;156(6):2028. — View Citation

Figueroa-Casas JB, Montoya R, Arzabala A, Connery SM. Comparison between automatic tube compensation and continuous positive airway pressure during spontaneous breathing trials. Respir Care. 2010 May;55(5):549-54. — View Citation

Fordis M, King JE, Ballantyne CM, Jones PH, Schneider KH, Spann SJ, Greenberg SB, Greisinger AJ. Comparison of the instructional efficacy of Internet-based CME with live interactive CME workshops: a randomized controlled trial. JAMA. 2005 Sep 7;294(9):1043-51. doi: 10.1001/jama.294.9.1043. — View Citation

Franck LS, Naughton I, Winter I. Opioid and benzodiazepine withdrawal symptoms in paediatric intensive care patients. Intensive Crit Care Nurs. 2004 Dec;20(6):344-51. doi: 10.1016/j.iccn.2004.07.008. — View Citation

Frazier L, Calvin AO, Mudd GT, Cohen MZ. Understanding of genetics among older adults. J Nurs Scholarsh. 2006;38(2):126-32. doi: 10.1111/j.1547-5069.2006.00089.x. — View Citation

Girard TD, Kress JP, Fuchs BD, Thomason JW, Schweickert WD, Pun BT, Taichman DB, Dunn JG, Pohlman AS, Kinniry PA, Jackson JC, Canonico AE, Light RW, Shintani AK, Thompson JL, Gordon SM, Hall JB, Dittus RS, Bernard GR, Ely EW. Efficacy and safety of a paired sedation and ventilator weaning protocol for mechanically ventilated patients in intensive care (Awakening and Breathing Controlled trial): a randomised controlled trial. Lancet. 2008 Jan 12;371(9607):126-34. doi: 10.1016/S0140-6736(08)60105-1. — View Citation

Girard TD, Pandharipande PP, Ely EW. Delirium in the intensive care unit. Crit Care. 2008;12 Suppl 3(Suppl 3):S3. doi: 10.1186/cc6149. Epub 2008 May 14. — View Citation

Halpern NA, Pastores SM. Critical care medicine in the United States 2000-2005: an analysis of bed numbers, occupancy rates, payer mix, and costs. Crit Care Med. 2010 Jan;38(1):65-71. doi: 10.1097/CCM.0b013e3181b090d0. — View Citation

Happ MB, Tate J, Garret K. Nursing counts. Focus on: nonspeaking older adults in the ICU: communication will require special strategies. American Journal of Nursing 106(5):29, 2006.

Happ MB. Communicating with mechanically ventilated patients: state of the science. AACN Clin Issues. 2001 May;12(2):247-58. doi: 10.1097/00044067-200105000-00008. — View Citation

Happ MB. Interpretation of nonvocal behavior and the meaning of voicelessness in critical care. Soc Sci Med. 2000 May;50(9):1247-55. doi: 10.1016/s0277-9536(99)00367-6. — View Citation

Harle MT, Dela RF, Veloso G, Rock J, Faulkner J, Cohen MZ. The experiences of Filipino American patients with cancer. Oncol Nurs Forum. 2007 Nov;34(6):1170-5. doi: 10.1188/07.ONF.1170-1175. — View Citation

Hooper MH, Girard TD. Sedation and weaning from mechanical ventilation: linking spontaneous awakening trials and spontaneous breathing trials to improve patient outcomes. Crit Care Clin. 2009 Jul;25(3):515-25, viii. doi: 10.1016/j.ccc.2009.04.002. — View Citation

Inouye SK, Viscoli CM, Horwitz RI, Hurst LD, Tinetti ME. A predictive model for delirium in hospitalized elderly medical patients based on admission characteristics. Ann Intern Med. 1993 Sep 15;119(6):474-81. doi: 10.7326/0003-4819-119-6-199309150-00005. — View Citation

Jackson JC, Girard TD, Gordon SM, Thompson JL, Shintani AK, Thomason JW, Pun BT, Canonico AE, Dunn JG, Bernard GR, Dittus RS, Ely EW. Long-term cognitive and psychological outcomes in the awakening and breathing controlled trial. Am J Respir Crit Care Med. 2010 Jul 15;182(2):183-91. doi: 10.1164/rccm.200903-0442OC. Epub 2010 Mar 18. — View Citation

Jackson JC, Gordon SM, Hart RP, Hopkins RO, Ely EW. The association between delirium and cognitive decline: a review of the empirical literature. Neuropsychol Rev. 2004 Jun;14(2):87-98. doi: 10.1023/b:nerv.0000028080.39602.17. — View Citation

Jacobi J, Fraser GL, Coursin DB, Riker RR, Fontaine D, Wittbrodt ET, Chalfin DB, Masica MF, Bjerke HS, Coplin WM, Crippen DW, Fuchs BD, Kelleher RM, Marik PE, Nasraway SA Jr, Murray MJ, Peruzzi WT, Lumb PD; Task Force of the American College of Critical Care Medicine (ACCM) of the Society of Critical Care Medicine (SCCM), American Society of Health-System Pharmacists (ASHP), American College of Chest Physicians. Clinical practice guidelines for the sustained use of sedatives and analgesics in the critically ill adult. Crit Care Med. 2002 Jan;30(1):119-41. doi: 10.1097/00003246-200201000-00020. No abstract available. Erratum In: Crit Care Med 2002 Mar;30(3):726. — View Citation

Kahn JM, Brake H, Steinberg KP. Intensivist physician staffing and the process of care in academic medical centres. Qual Saf Health Care. 2007 Oct;16(5):329-33. doi: 10.1136/qshc.2007.022376. — View Citation

King MS, Render ML, Ely EW, Watson PL. Liberation and animation: strategies to minimize brain dysfunction in critically ill patients. Semin Respir Crit Care Med. 2010 Feb;31(1):87-96. doi: 10.1055/s-0029-1246284. Epub 2010 Jan 25. — View Citation

Knaus WA, Wagner DP, Draper EA, Zimmerman JE, Bergner M, Bastos PG, Sirio CA, Murphy DJ, Lotring T, Damiano A, et al. The APACHE III prognostic system. Risk prediction of hospital mortality for critically ill hospitalized adults. Chest. 1991 Dec;100(6):1619-36. doi: 10.1378/chest.100.6.1619. — View Citation

Kress JP, Gehlbach B, Lacy M, Pliskin N, Pohlman AS, Hall JB. The long-term psychological effects of daily sedative interruption on critically ill patients. Am J Respir Crit Care Med. 2003 Dec 15;168(12):1457-61. doi: 10.1164/rccm.200303-455OC. Epub 2003 Oct 2. — View Citation

Kress JP, Pohlman AS, Hall JB. Sedation and analgesia in the intensive care unit. Am J Respir Crit Care Med. 2002 Oct 15;166(8):1024-8. doi: 10.1164/rccm.200204-270CC. No abstract available. — View Citation

Kress JP, Pohlman AS, O'Connor MF, Hall JB. Daily interruption of sedative infusions in critically ill patients undergoing mechanical ventilation. N Engl J Med. 2000 May 18;342(20):1471-7. doi: 10.1056/NEJM200005183422002. — View Citation

Lat I, McMillian W, Taylor S, Janzen JM, Papadopoulos S, Korth L, Ehtisham A, Nold J, Agarwal S, Azocar R, Burke P. The impact of delirium on clinical outcomes in mechanically ventilated surgical and trauma patients. Crit Care Med. 2009 Jun;37(6):1898-905. doi: 10.1097/CCM.0b013e31819ffe38. — View Citation

Lin SM, Liu CY, Wang CH, Lin HC, Huang CD, Huang PY, Fang YF, Shieh MH, Kuo HP. The impact of delirium on the survival of mechanically ventilated patients. Crit Care Med. 2004 Nov;32(11):2254-9. doi: 10.1097/01.ccm.0000145587.16421.bb. — View Citation

Mascia MF, Koch M, Medicis JJ. Pharmacoeconomic impact of rational use guidelines on the provision of analgesia, sedation, and neuromuscular blockade in critical care. Crit Care Med. 2000 Jul;28(7):2300-6. doi: 10.1097/00003246-200007000-00019. — View Citation

Mehta S, Burry L, Fischer S, Martinez-Motta JC, Hallett D, Bowman D, Wong C, Meade MO, Stewart TE, Cook DJ; Canadian Critical Care Trials Group. Canadian survey of the use of sedatives, analgesics, and neuromuscular blocking agents in critically ill patients. Crit Care Med. 2006 Feb;34(2):374-80. doi: 10.1097/01.ccm.0000196830.61965.f1. — View Citation

Micek ST, Anand NJ, Laible BR, Shannon WD, Kollef MH. Delirium as detected by the CAM-ICU predicts restraint use among mechanically ventilated medical patients. Crit Care Med. 2005 Jun;33(6):1260-5. doi: 10.1097/01.ccm.0000164540.58515.bf. — View Citation

Milbrandt EB, Deppen S, Harrison PL, Shintani AK, Speroff T, Stiles RA, Truman B, Bernard GR, Dittus RS, Ely EW. Costs associated with delirium in mechanically ventilated patients. Crit Care Med. 2004 Apr;32(4):955-62. doi: 10.1097/01.ccm.0000119429.16055.92. — View Citation

Moore DE Jr, Green JS, Gallis HA. Achieving desired results and improved outcomes: integrating planning and assessment throughout learning activities. J Contin Educ Health Prof. 2009 Winter;29(1):1-15. doi: 10.1002/chp.20001. — View Citation

Morris PE, Goad A, Thompson C, Taylor K, Harry B, Passmore L, Ross A, Anderson L, Baker S, Sanchez M, Penley L, Howard A, Dixon L, Leach S, Small R, Hite RD, Haponik E. Early intensive care unit mobility therapy in the treatment of acute respiratory failure. Crit Care Med. 2008 Aug;36(8):2238-43. doi: 10.1097/CCM.0b013e318180b90e. — View Citation

Ouimet S, Kavanagh BP, Gottfried SB, Skrobik Y. Incidence, risk factors and consequences of ICU delirium. Intensive Care Med. 2007 Jan;33(1):66-73. doi: 10.1007/s00134-006-0399-8. Epub 2006 Nov 11. — View Citation

Pandharipande P, Cotton BA, Shintani A, Thompson J, Pun BT, Morris JA Jr, Dittus R, Ely EW. Prevalence and risk factors for development of delirium in surgical and trauma intensive care unit patients. J Trauma. 2008 Jul;65(1):34-41. doi: 10.1097/TA.0b013e31814b2c4d. — View Citation

Pandharipande PP, Pun BT, Herr DL, Maze M, Girard TD, Miller RR, Shintani AK, Thompson JL, Jackson JC, Deppen SA, Stiles RA, Dittus RS, Bernard GR, Ely EW. Effect of sedation with dexmedetomidine vs lorazepam on acute brain dysfunction in mechanically ventilated patients: the MENDS randomized controlled trial. JAMA. 2007 Dec 12;298(22):2644-53. doi: 10.1001/jama.298.22.2644. — View Citation

Patel RP, Gambrell M, Speroff T, Scott TA, Pun BT, Okahashi J, Strength C, Pandharipande P, Girard TD, Burgess H, Dittus RS, Bernard GR, Ely EW. Delirium and sedation in the intensive care unit: survey of behaviors and attitudes of 1384 healthcare professionals. Crit Care Med. 2009 Mar;37(3):825-32. doi: 10.1097/CCM.0b013e31819b8608. — View Citation

Pisani MA, Kong SY, Kasl SV, Murphy TE, Araujo KL, Van Ness PH. Days of delirium are associated with 1-year mortality in an older intensive care unit population. Am J Respir Crit Care Med. 2009 Dec 1;180(11):1092-7. doi: 10.1164/rccm.200904-0537OC. Epub 2009 Sep 10. — View Citation

Pronovost P, Needham D, Berenholtz S, Sinopoli D, Chu H, Cosgrove S, Sexton B, Hyzy R, Welsh R, Roth G, Bander J, Kepros J, Goeschel C. An intervention to decrease catheter-related bloodstream infections in the ICU. N Engl J Med. 2006 Dec 28;355(26):2725-32. doi: 10.1056/NEJMoa061115. Erratum In: N Engl J Med. 2007 Jun 21;356(25):2660. — View Citation

Pun BT, Ely EW. The importance of diagnosing and managing ICU delirium. Chest. 2007 Aug;132(2):624-36. doi: 10.1378/chest.06-1795. — View Citation

Pun BT, Gordon SM, Peterson JF, Shintani AK, Jackson JC, Foss J, Harding SD, Bernard GR, Dittus RS, Ely EW. Large-scale implementation of sedation and delirium monitoring in the intensive care unit: a report from two medical centers. Crit Care Med. 2005 Jun;33(6):1199-205. doi: 10.1097/01.ccm.0000166867.78320.ac. — View Citation

Quenot JP, Ladoire S, Devoucoux F, Doise JM, Cailliod R, Cunin N, Aube H, Blettery B, Charles PE. Effect of a nurse-implemented sedation protocol on the incidence of ventilator-associated pneumonia. Crit Care Med. 2007 Sep;35(9):2031-6. doi: 10.1097/01.ccm.0000282733.83089.4d. — View Citation

Richman PS, Baram D, Varela M, Glass PS. Sedation during mechanical ventilation: a trial of benzodiazepine and opiate in combination. Crit Care Med. 2006 May;34(5):1395-401. doi: 10.1097/01.CCM.0000215454.50964.F8. — View Citation

Robinson BR, Mueller EW, Henson K, Branson RD, Barsoum S, Tsuei BJ. An analgesia-delirium-sedation protocol for critically ill trauma patients reduces ventilator days and hospital length of stay. J Trauma. 2008 Sep;65(3):517-26. doi: 10.1097/TA.0b013e318181b8f6. — View Citation

Schoenfeld DA, Bernard GR; ARDS Network. Statistical evaluation of ventilator-free days as an efficacy measure in clinical trials of treatments for acute respiratory distress syndrome. Crit Care Med. 2002 Aug;30(8):1772-7. doi: 10.1097/00003246-200208000-00016. — View Citation

Schweickert WD, Gehlbach BK, Pohlman AS, Hall JB, Kress JP. Daily interruption of sedative infusions and complications of critical illness in mechanically ventilated patients. Crit Care Med. 2004 Jun;32(6):1272-6. doi: 10.1097/01.ccm.0000127263.54807.79. — View Citation

Schweickert WD, Pohlman MC, Pohlman AS, Nigos C, Pawlik AJ, Esbrook CL, Spears L, Miller M, Franczyk M, Deprizio D, Schmidt GA, Bowman A, Barr R, McCallister KE, Hall JB, Kress JP. Early physical and occupational therapy in mechanically ventilated, critically ill patients: a randomised controlled trial. Lancet. 2009 May 30;373(9678):1874-82. doi: 10.1016/S0140-6736(09)60658-9. Epub 2009 May 14. — View Citation

Sessler CN, Pedram S. Protocolized and target-based sedation and analgesia in the ICU. Crit Care Clin. 2009 Jul;25(3):489-513, viii. doi: 10.1016/j.ccc.2009.03.001. — View Citation

Shintani AK, Girard TD, Ely EW. Immortal time bias in critical care. Crit Care Med. 2010 Apr;38(4):1229. doi: 10.1097/CCM.0b013e3181ce473d. No abstract available. — View Citation

Sleiman I, Rozzini R, Trabucchi M. Delirium in older patients in intensive care units. Arch Intern Med. 2008 Jun 9;168(11):1229. doi: 10.1001/archinte.168.11.1229-a. No abstract available. — View Citation

Strom T, Martinussen T, Toft P. A protocol of no sedation for critically ill patients receiving mechanical ventilation: a randomised trial. Lancet. 2010 Feb 6;375(9713):475-80. doi: 10.1016/S0140-6736(09)62072-9. Epub 2010 Jan 29. — View Citation

Tanios MA, de Wit M, Epstein SK, Devlin JW. Perceived barriers to the use of sedation protocols and daily sedation interruption: a multidisciplinary survey. J Crit Care. 2009 Mar;24(1):66-73. doi: 10.1016/j.jcrc.2008.03.037. Epub 2008 Jun 30. — View Citation

Thomason JW, Shintani A, Peterson JF, Pun BT, Jackson JC, Ely EW. Intensive care unit delirium is an independent predictor of longer hospital stay: a prospective analysis of 261 non-ventilated patients. Crit Care. 2005 Aug;9(4):R375-81. doi: 10.1186/cc3729. Epub 2005 Jun 1. — View Citation

Thomsen GE, Snow GL, Rodriguez L, Hopkins RO. Patients with respiratory failure increase ambulation after transfer to an intensive care unit where early activity is a priority. Crit Care Med. 2008 Apr;36(4):1119-24. doi: 10.1097/CCM.0b013e318168f986. — View Citation

Vasilevskis EE, Ely EW, Speroff T, Pun BT, Boehm L, Dittus RS. Reducing iatrogenic risks: ICU-acquired delirium and weakness--crossing the quality chasm. Chest. 2010 Nov;138(5):1224-33. doi: 10.1378/chest.10-0466. — View Citation

Wall RJ, Ely EW, Elasy TA, Dittus RS, Foss J, Wilkerson KS, Speroff T. Using real time process measurements to reduce catheter related bloodstream infections in the intensive care unit. Qual Saf Health Care. 2005 Aug;14(4):295-302. doi: 10.1136/qshc.2004.013516. — View Citation

* Note: There are 70 references in all — Click here to view all references

Outcome

Type	Measure	Description	Time frame	Safety issue
Primary	Ventilator free days (VFDs)	The primary outcome will be a comparison between the 3 month baseline period of ventilator free days and the 9 month period following the intervention. Two interim analyses will be conducted.	Change in ventlator free days at baseline to 9 months