Less Restraint Use, Same Outcomes in Ventilated Patients

Physical restraints are commonly used in the ICU to prevent self-extubation or device removal, especially in patients on mechanical ventilation, but their overall benefit–harm balance remains uncertain.

In this randomized trial conducted in 10 ICUs across France, investigators enrolled 405 adults who had started invasive mechanical ventilation within the previous 6 hours and were expected to require it for at least 48 hours. Patients were assigned to a low-use restraint strategy (wrist restraints avoided unless severe agitation developed) or a routine-use strategy (wrist restraints applied and reassessed daily).