Loading...
Delirium in critically ill patients is associated with excess mortality, longer lengths of stay, and distress for patients and families. We commonly treat delirious patients with antipsychotics, despite two small trials that showed no benefit for haloperidol or ziprasidone. How best to manage delirium remains a subject of much debate.
Investigators randomized 566 critically ill patients with delirium at 16 U.S. hospitals to receive haloperidol, ziprasidone, or placebo for as long as 14 days. Most patients had hypoactive delirium, 75% were medical intensive care unit patients, almost all were receiving mechanical ventilation, and use of analgesia and sedation was common. Mean daily doses of haloperidol and ziprasidone were 11 mg and 20 mg, re…