Comparison of two sedation regimens during targeted temperature management after cardiac arrest

Although guidelines on post-resuscitation care recommend the use of short-acting agents for sedation during targeted temperature management (TTM) after cardiac arrest (CA), the potential advantages of this strategy have not been clinically demonstrated. We compared two sedation regimens (propofol-remifentanil, period P2, vs midazolam-fentanyl, period P1) among comatose TTM-treated CA survivors. Management protocol, apart from sedation and neuromuscular blockers use, did not change between the two periods. Baseline severity was assessed with Cardiac-Arrest-Hospital-Prognosis (CAHP) score. Time to awakening was measured starting from discontinuation of sedation at the end of rewarming. Awakening was defined as delayed when it occurred after more than 48 h. 460 patients (134 in P2, 326 in P1) were included. CAHP score did not significantly differ between P2 and P1 (P = 0.93). Sixty percent of patients awoke in both periods (81/134 vs. 194/326, P = 0.85). Median time to awakening was 2.5 (IQR 1–9) hours in P2 vs. 17 (IQR 7–60) hours in P1. Awakening was delayed in 6% of patients in P2 vs. 29% in P1 (p