Value of bispectral index in assessing the depth of sedation of patients in surgical intensive care unit

Objective: To determine the value of the bispectral index (BIS) in assessing the depth of sedation of patients in surgical intensive care unit (SICU). Methods: Thirty patients scheduled for major surgery requiring mechanical ventilation were included. Patients were assigned randomly to receive either midazolam or propofol.Additional analgesic medication was given with fentanyl. The BIS was monitored continuously and Ramsay sedation scale was assessed. Results: The correlation between BIS and Ramsay sedation scale in patients received midazolam or propofol were r =-0.91 and -0.88 respectively. There was no significant difference between these 2 groups of patients(P0.05). Conclusion: The BIS is suitable for monitoring the depth of sedation of patients in SICU.