The Effect of Etomidate on Patient Outcomes After Single Bolus Doses

About This Study

The primary aim is to determine the difference in hospital length of stay between septic patients given etomidate and those given midazolam for induction during rapid sequence intubation (RSI) in the emergency department. To achieve this aim we plan to perform a prospective randomized trial measuring the length of stay of patients meeting sepsis criteria and requiring intubation. The investigators will compare in-hospital mortality rates between patients given etomidate and patients given midazolam for induction. In addition to hospital length of stay, secondary endpoints between the two groups will include length of stay in the intensive care unit, death within 48 hours of admission, and total number of days intubated. Research Hypothesis: In adult patients presenting to the emergency department with sepsis and requiring rapid sequence intubation, the length of stay of patients given etomidate will be greater than that of patients given the alternative agent midazolam for induction.

Conditions Studied

Interventions

• •Etomidate
• •midazolam

Eligibility

Inclusion Criteria:

* All critically ill adult patients who present to the emergency department in need of ventilatory support and having a traumatic or suspected infectious etiology for their illness. Specifically, all patients meeting criteria for severe sepsis, septic shock, or the sepsis syndrome by fulfillment of two of the four criteria for the systemic inflammatory response syndrome (temperature greater than 38.3°C or less than 36°C, heart rate greater than 90, respiratory rate greater than 20 or PaCO2 less than 32, white blood cell count greater than 12,000 or less than 4000 or greater than 10% bands).
* All patients presenting in respiratory distress from a presumed pulmonary source of infection and requiring ventilatory support.
* All patients presenting after any traumatic injury and requiring ventilatory support.

Exclusion Criteria:

* An age less than 18
* Pregnancy
* Do-not-resuscitate status

Study Locations (1)