Sedative choice in pediatric intensive care may influence long-term neurocognitive outcomes
Penn Nursing researchers found that certain sedatives can affect long-term neurocognitive outcomes when used during critical illness early in childhood.
2 min. read
A new Penn Nursing study suggests that the specific sedatives used during critical illness in early childhood may have long-term implications for a child’s neurocognitive development. Martha A.Q. Curley, professor in the Department of Family and Community Health, and the Ruth M. Colket Endowed Chair in Pediatric Nursing at Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, is a co-leader of the study.
The research, published in JAMA Network Open, finds that while most children who survived a critical illness requiring sedation had IQ scores within the normal range, those treated with a combination of only opioids and benzodiazepines score lower on later neurocognitive tests than those whose treatment include the sedative dexmedetomidine.
“For a long time, we haven’t had clear evidence on which sedatives are best for critically ill children on ventilators,” says Curley. “Our study shows that the choice we make in the pediatric ICU can affect a child’s brain development years later. Specifically, adding dexmedetomidine to our treatment plan may help protect a child’s long-term thinking and learning skills better than using opioids and benzodiazepines alone.”
The study highlights the importance of long-term follow-up for PICU survivors to identify and support children who may experience subtle but impactful neurocognitive challenges.
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