Dad in ICU on vent they are taking him OFF sedation I don’t understand why

[Nufivjyuitrniguy]

They are saying that if he goes off the ventilator he will die but they are trying to wake him up by taking him off sedation. He has encephalopathy and is non responsive. He is in a lot of pain I can feel it. I don’t understand why they want him off sedation they said they want him to do something “purposeful” and “wake him up” I don’t want him awake on the ventilator. They want to put in a trach but I’m confused they want him to be “awake” for that ?. They are slowly weaning him off the ventilator and lowering the oxygen. He is in distress

[LeopardGecko]

I'm sure there will be others who have a better understanding but I didn't want to read your message and not give you a response.

As far as I know, weaning him off the ventilator is a positive step. It will help him to recover better and also to give feedback to medical staff on how he is feeling which he can't do while sedated.

In order to be fully awake and still on the ventilator I believe you need to have a tracheostomy. This is quite a straightforward procedure and will allow him to continue to be supported by the ventilator but be awake and aware.

If he is awake, he will be able to communicate better about the pain and help the staff to treat him accordingly.

If you are unsure about any of the information or decisions being made, remember that you can ask the staff to explain in more detail. Never feel that you can't ask.

[Nufivjyuitrniguy in reply to LeopardGecko]

I don’t want him to be awake on the ventilator. I don’t understand why that is the goal. If they were going to wake him up I’d like them to wake him up only just before he gets off if he has to.

[LeopardGecko in reply to Nufivjyuitrniguy]

It is much better for him to be awake for a variety of reasons. They will probably give him the tracheostomy while he is still sedated and then wean off the sedation until he is awake. He won't be able to talk at first with a tracheostomy but it won't hurt.

[Sepsur]

Hi @Nufivjyuitrniguy

Giving him a trachy is a positive move towards waking him which is the goal. We are sedated to allow the team to administer treatments that would be unbearable if we were conscious. I don’t know anything about how one treats a person with encephalitis and whether certain procedures need to be administered whilst they are conscious. My trachy was fitted whilst I was still sedated - I was made conscious soon afterwards. I hope you get more positive news in the coming days.

If they believe we are in too much distress , often we are sedated again. Agitation can be as a side effect of medications, icu delirium or pain obviously. I got the best treatment in ICU - we have to trust we are in safe hands.