Researchers are seeking the best medication to use when placing patients on breathing machines

UCHealth University of Colorado Hospital and CU School of Medicine will be enrolling patients in a sedative study beginning March 2024.
By:
March 8, 2024
Two sedatives commonly used when severely ill patients are placed on breathing machines will be put to the test in a new medication study (Randomized Trial of Sedative Choice for Intubation) that UCHealth University of Colorado Hospital, in partnership with CU School of Medicine. Photo: iStock.
Two sedatives commonly used when severely ill patients are placed on breathing machines will be put to the test in a new medication study (Randomized Trial of Sedative Choice for Intubation) that UCHealth University of Colorado Hospital, in partnership with CU School of Medicine. Photo: iStock.

Two sedatives commonly used when severely ill patients are placed on breathing machines will be put to the test in a new medication study that UCHealth University of Colorado Hospital, in partnership with CU School of Medicine.

There is no consensus whether ketamine or etomidate work best for patients who are intubated when their medical condition interferes with their ability to breathe on their own, a procedure that requires sedation.

Researchers hope to enroll 200 patients in the randomized trial in Colorado and 2,000 overall at six sites around the country to determine which medication ensures the best possible outcome.

The study, called the Randomized Trial of Sedative Choice for Intubation (RSI), will be led by Dr. Adit Ginde, an emergency medicine physician at UCHealth and professor at University of Colorado School of Medicine.

“Most patients do well with either medication, but some experience issues with blood pressure or oxygen levels,” said Dr. Ginde. “Knowing whether the two drugs are the same for patients, or if one is better, could improve care for millions of patients around the world every year,”

Patients who need to be placed on a breathing machine (intubated) are typically unconscious or in distress, so they are often not able to consent ahead of the procedure. Researchers will work with the physicians to determine which medication the patient will receive to ensure the best possible outcome.

Studies conducted for life-threating conditions are overseen by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration and an independent ethics committee. Researchers will meet with each patient or designated medical decision maker after the procedure to discuss the study.

The study is funded by the Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Institute (PCORI). To learn more about the study or provide comments, visit the study website.

To opt out of participation, patients can request a bracelet by email [email protected] or by phone at 615-208-6139 to indicate their preference should they become unconscious and require emergent medical attention at University of Colorado Hospital.

Clinical trials Emergency medicine Intensive care unit Research in health care

About the author

Kelli Christensen joined UCHealth in 2021 as the public and media relations manager. She oversees media strategy and execution and manages a team of media relations professionals. Christensen has been in health care since 2006 and previously worked with SCL Health and Denver Health, as well as Northwestern Memorial Hospital in Chicago.