Inhalational Agents as Intensive Care Unit Sedatives.

Inhaled anesthetics are gaining recognition as alternatives to intravenous sedatives in the intensive care unit. As sedatives for mechanically ventilated patients, they offer rapid onset, bronchodilation, and minimal systemic metabolism. Historically, volatile anesthetics were mostly used in refractory status asthmaticus or epilepticus using an anesthesia machine with a vaporizer. Sedation with the volatile agents can provide effective sedation and potentially promote faster extubation for mechanically ventilated patients. Although they offer unique advantages in this population, risks such as hypotension and elevated intracranial pressure may limit their use in certain cases.