Phenobarbital as a Sedation Strategy to Reduce Opioid and Benzodiazepine Burden in Neonatal Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation.

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

2-16-2024

Abstract

OBJECTIVE:  The study aims to describe our experience with the implementation of phenobarbital as a primary sedation strategy during neonatal extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO).

STUDY DESIGN:  Retrospective chart review in a level IV neonatal intensive care unit between 2011 and 2021 comparing neonatal ECMO patients before and after the implementation of a sedation-analgesia (SA) protocol using scheduled phenobarbital as the primary sedative. Groups were compared for neonatal and ECMO characteristics, cumulative SA doses, and in-hospital outcomes. Comparison between groups was performed using Mann-Whitney test on continuous variables and chi-square on nominal variables.

RESULTS:  Forty-two patients were included, 23 preprotocol and 19 postprotocol. Birth, pre-ECMO, and ECMO clinical characteristics were similar between groups except for a lower birth weight in the postprotocol group (

CONCLUSION:  In this cohort, short-term use of phenobarbital as primary sedation strategy during neonatal ECMO was associated with reduced opioid and midazolam burden. Such reduction, however, did not affect in-hospital outcomes.

KEY POINTS: · Prolonged sedation on ECMO puts infants at risk for iatrogenic withdrawal.. · Phenobarbital is a feasible sedation strategy for ECMO.. · Phenobarbital sedation strategy may mitigate risk by decreasing opioid and midazolam burden..

Publication Title

American journal of perinatology

Comments

Online ahead of print

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