Did Shorter Delirium Translate Into Less Ventilation After Organophosphate Poisoning?

In a randomized placebo-controlled study of adults in intensive care after organophosphate poisoning, the delirium and ventilation outcomes told different stories.

What changed in the study

Vijayakumar and colleagues studied 56 patients and assessed delirium three times a day with the Confusion Assessment Method for the ICU. The mean time to become delirium-free was about 6 days in the melatonin group and 9 days in the placebo group. The study also reported lower use of midazolam and fentanyl in the melatonin arm.

Read ventilation separately

The groups did not differ significantly in how often mechanical ventilation was used, how long it lasted or how long patients stayed in intensive care. This small trial gives those estimates limited precision. For a toxicology review, record the delirium result under the outcome it actually measured. The need for respiratory support and the course of the underlying poisoning are separate questions.

Source

Vijayakumar et al., randomized trial of melatonin and delirium after organophosphate poisoning