Sedation Management in Pediatric Patients With Acute Respiratory Failure

People with acute respiratory failure usually require the use of an artificial breathing
machine, known as a mechanical ventilator. Sedative medications, which help keep people calm
and reduce anxiety, are often prescribed for children who are on mechanical ventilators.
However, the longer that sedative medications are used, the longer a child may need to remain
on mechanical ventilation. This study will evaluate the effectiveness of a team approach to
sedation management that aims to reduce the number of days that children with acute
respiratory failure require mechanical ventilation.