Effect of Non-benzodiazepine Versus Benzodiazepine Sedation on Days Alive and Free of Mechanical Ventilation in the Surgical/Trauma Intensive Care Unit.

In STICU patients requiring mechanical ventilation, non-benzodiazepine sedation was associated with more ventilator-free days, less time oversedated, reduced delirium, and reduced ventilator-associated pneumonia.

These findings extend prior intensive care unit sedation data into the STICU population supporting the use of non-benzodiazepine strategies when clinically appropriate to optimize patient outcomes.