Effect & Safety of Inhaled Isoflurane vs IV Midazolam for Sedation in Mechanically Ventilated Children 3-17 Years Old

Summary

This is a study to compare safety and efficacy of inhaled isoflurane delivered by the AnaConDa-S (Anaesthetic Conserving Device (ACD)) versus intravenous midazolam for sedation in mechanically ventilated children admitted to an intensive care unit.

Timeline

Start

2021-01-14

Primary completion

2023-01-19

Completion

2023-01-19

Outcome

Mixed primary results

paper The least-squares mean difference between treatments was 6·57 percentage points (95% CI -8·99 to 22·13), indicating non-inferiority PMID 40680761 ↗

paper non-inferiority (margin -9·36 percentage points) PMID 40680761 ↗

registry Least square means 5.34 (95% CI -10.48 to 21.17); note: Testing the hypothesis of no difference between isoflurane and midazolam. NCT04684238 ↗

Publications

• Background Eifinger F, Hunseler C, Roth B, Vierzig A, Oberthuer A, Mehler K, Kribs A, Menzel C, Trieschmann U. Observations on the effects of inhaled isoflurane in long-term sedation of critically Ill children using a modified AnaConDa(c)-system. Klin Padiatr. 2013 Jul;225(4):206-11. doi: 10.1055/s-0033-1345173. Epub 2013 Jun 24.
• Background Ariyama J, Hayashida M, Shibata K, Sugimoto Y, Imanishi H, O-oi Y, Kitamura A. Risk factors for the development of reversible psychomotor dysfunction following prolonged isoflurane inhalation in the general intensive care unit. J Clin Anesth. 2009 Dec;21(8):567-73. doi: 10.1016/j.jclinane.2009.01.011.
• Background Grant MJ, Balas MC, Curley MA; RESTORE Investigative Team. Defining sedation-related adverse events in the pediatric intensive care unit. Heart Lung. 2013 May-Jun;42(3):171-6. doi: 10.1016/j.hrtlng.2013.02.004.
• Background Hoemberg M, Vierzig A, Roth B, Eifinger F. Plasma fluoride concentrations during prolonged administration of isoflurane to a pediatric patient requiring renal replacement therapy. Paediatr Anaesth. 2012 Apr;22(4):412-3. doi: 10.1111/j.1460-9592.2012.03814.x. No abstract available.
• Background Kruessell MA, Udink ten Cate FE, Kraus AJ, Roth B, Trieschmann U. Use of propofol in pediatric intensive care units: a national survey in Germany. Pediatr Crit Care Med. 2012 May;13(3):e150-4. doi: 10.1097/PCC.0b013e3182388a95.
• Background Kudchadkar SR, Yaster M, Punjabi NM. Sedation, sleep promotion, and delirium screening practices in the care of mechanically ventilated children: a wake-up call for the pediatric critical care community*. Crit Care Med. 2014 Jul;42(7):1592-600. doi: 10.1097/CCM.0000000000000326.
• Background Nolent P, Laudenbach V. [Sedation and analgesia in the paediatric intensive care unit]. Ann Fr Anesth Reanim. 2008 Jul-Aug;27(7-8):623-32. doi: 10.1016/j.annfar.2008.04.014. Epub 2008 Jul 9. French.
• Background Meiser A, Laubenthal H. Inhalational anaesthetics in the ICU: theory and practice of inhalational sedation in the ICU, economics, risk-benefit. Best Pract Res Clin Anaesthesiol. 2005 Sep;19(3):523-38. doi: 10.1016/j.bpa.2005.02.006.
• Background Meyburg J, Dill ML, von Haken R, Picardi S, Westhoff JH, Silver G, Traube C. Risk Factors for the Development of Postoperative Delirium in Pediatric Intensive Care Patients. Pediatr Crit Care Med. 2018 Oct;19(10):e514-e521. doi: 10.1097/PCC.0000000000001681.
• Background Mody K, Kaur S, Mauer EA, Gerber LM, Greenwald BM, Silver G, Traube C. Benzodiazepines and Development of Delirium in Critically Ill Children: Estimating the Causal Effect. Crit Care Med. 2018 Sep;46(9):1486-1491. doi: 10.1097/CCM.0000000000003194.
• Background Playfor S, Jenkins I, Boyles C, Choonara I, Davies G, Haywood T, Hinson G, Mayer A, Morton N, Ralph T, Wolf A; United Kingdom Paediatric Intensive Care Society Sedation; Analgesia and Neuromuscular Blockade Working Group. Consensus guidelines on sedation and analgesia in critically ill children. Intensive Care Med. 2006 Aug;32(8):1125-36. doi: 10.1007/s00134-006-0190-x. Epub 2006 May 13.
• Background Sackey PV, Martling CR, Granath F, Radell PJ. Prolonged isoflurane sedation of intensive care unit patients with the Anesthetic Conserving Device. Crit Care Med. 2004 Nov;32(11):2241-6. doi: 10.1097/01.ccm.0000145951.76082.77.
• Background Sackey PV, Martling CR, Radell PJ. Three cases of PICU sedation with isoflurane delivered by the 'AnaConDa'. Paediatr Anaesth. 2005 Oct;15(10):879-85. doi: 10.1111/j.1460-9592.2005.01704.x.
• Background Tobias JD. Tolerance, withdrawal, and physical dependency after long-term sedation and analgesia of children in the pediatric intensive care unit. Crit Care Med. 2000 Jun;28(6):2122-32. doi: 10.1097/00003246-200006000-00079.
• Background Vet NJ, Ista E, de Wildt SN, van Dijk M, Tibboel D, de Hoog M. Optimal sedation in pediatric intensive care patients: a systematic review. Intensive Care Med. 2013 Sep;39(9):1524-34. doi: 10.1007/s00134-013-2971-3. Epub 2013 Jun 19.
• Miatello J, Palacios-Cuesta A, Radell P, Oberthuer A, Playfor S, Amores-Hernandez I, Barreault S, Biedermann R, Charlo Molina MT, Encarnacion Martinez J, Kuehne B, Mencia S, Mendez MD, Menzel C, Morin L, Oviedo L, Piloquet JE, Falkenhav M, Sackey P, Trieschmann U, Tissieres P; IsoCOMFORT Study Group. Inhaled isoflurane for sedation of mechanically ventilated children in intensive care (IsoCOMFORT): a multicentre, randomised, active-control, assessor-masked, non-inferiority phase 3 trial. Lancet Respir Med. 2025 Oct;13(10):897-910. doi: 10.1016/S2213-2600(25)00203-6. Epub 2025 Jul 15.

Drugs

Evaluation	Drug	Modality	Dose	Route
Subject	Isoflurane	Other / unclassified	—	Inhaled
Comparator	Midazolam	Small molecule	—	Intravenous

Indications

No indication recorded.