ICU sedation, delirium & recovery
Association between opioid infusion use and duration of mechanical ventilation and related outcomes in critically ill adults: a systematic review and meta-analysis
Pooled result · MV durationResult — go to the resultMD 3.63 h 95% CI 2.27–4.99Authors' conclusion
The effect of sedation including a continuous IV opioid on MV duration, pain delirium, coma, mortality and LOS remain uncertain.
Study context
- Population
- Mechanically ventilated critically ill adults
- Participants
- 803 participants · 8 studies
- Comparison
- Sedation including a continuous IV opioid infusion vs sedation without
- Outcome
- Duration of mechanical ventilation
Methodological detailsrandom-effects model (Restricted Maximum Likelihood), PRISMA, Risk of bias critical for most studies
- Random-effects model (Restricted Maximum Likelihood)
- PRISMA
- Risk of bias critical for most studies
Pooled result
Mechanical ventilation (MV) duration
MD
3.63 h
95% CI 2.27–4.99
Continuous IV opioid vs Sedation without
MD 3.63 h (95% CI 2.27–4.99)
As reported in the abstract
Further pooled results
| Outcome | OR (95% CI) | |
|---|---|---|
| Delirium3 studies · very low certainty | 0.28 (0.16–0.47) | |
| Mortality3 studies · very low certainty | 0.41 (0.21–0.80) | |
| 0.10.31310Odds ratio (log scale) |
| Outcome | MD (mm) (95% CI) |
|---|---|
| Pain (VAS score) · 24 h2 studies · low certainty | −0.44 (- 0.82 to −0.07) |
Coma and ICU/hospital length of stay (LOS)
- Continuous IV opioid does not increase coma or reduce ICU/hospital LOS
Original publication
Association between opioid infusion use and duration of mechanical ventilation and related outcomes in critically ill adults: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Ann Intensive Care. Published 19 May 2026. doi:10.
Composed by AI from the published abstract and checked against it. How Briefs are made →