What do systematic reviews say?

Dopamine vs norepinephrine

Dopamine showed no clear difference in total mortalitya compared with norepinephrine (high certainty).

• Vasopressors for hypotensive shock 2016 · Cochrane Headline outcomes only
  RR 1.07 [0.99, 1.16]
  6 studies · 1400 participants
  High

Terlipressin vs norepinephrine

It is very uncertain whether terlipressin changes total mortalitya compared with norepinephrine (very low certainty).

• Vasopressors for hypotensive shock 2016 · Cochrane Headline outcomes only
  RR 0.93 [0.69, 1.26]
  7 studies · 231 participants
  Very low

Vasopressin vs norepinephrine

Vasopressin showed no clear difference in total mortalitya compared with norepinephrine (moderate certainty).

• Vasopressors for hypotensive shock 2016 · Cochrane Headline outcomes only
  RR 0.9 [0.78, 1.03]
  8 studies · 1108 participants
  Moderate

Phenylephrine vs norepinephrine

It is very uncertain whether phenylephrine changes total mortalitya compared with norepinephrine (very low certainty).

• Vasopressors for hypotensive shock 2016 · Cochrane Headline outcomes only
  RR 1.08 [0.76, 1.55]
  2 studies · 86 participants
  Very low

Epinephrine vs norepinephrine

Epinephrine showed no clear difference in total mortalitya compared with norepinephrine (low certainty).

• Vasopressors for hypotensive shock 2016 · Cochrane Headline outcomes only
  RR 0.88 [0.63, 1.25]
  1 study · 269 participants
  Low

Intervention not reported

The intervention leads to higher combined mortality of all studies (high certainty).

• Pulmonary artery catheters for adult patients in intensive care 2013 · Cochrane Headline outcomes only
  RR 1.01
  13 studies · 5686 participants
  High

Oxygenation vs no oxygenation during the apnoeic period preceding intubation

Oxygenation showed no clear difference in mortality compared with no oxygenation during the apnoeic period preceding intubation (low certainty).

• Oxygenation during the apnoeic phase preceding intubation in adults in prehospital, emergency department, intensive… 2023 · Cochrane Headline outcomes only
  RR 0.84 [0.7, 1]
  6 studies · 1015 participants
  Low

Enteral vs parenteral nutrition

Enteral showed no clear difference in mortality compared with parenteral nutrition (low certainty).

• Enteral versus parenteral nutrition and enteral versus a combination of enteral and parenteral nutrition for adults in… 2018 · Cochrane Headline outcomes only
  RR 1.19 [0.8, 1.77]
  6 studies · 361 participants
  Low

Enteral vs enteral and parenteral nutrition

Enteral showed no clear difference in mortality compared with enteral and parenteral nutrition (low certainty).

• Enteral versus parenteral nutrition and enteral versus a combination of enteral and parenteral nutrition for adults in… 2018 · Cochrane Headline outcomes only
  RR 0.99 [0.84, 1.16]
  5 studies · 5111 participants
  Low

Intervention not reported

The review found no eligible studies for this question.

• Non‐pharmacological interventions for sleep promotion in the intensive care unit 2015 · Cochrane Headline outcomes only
  no estimate extracted
  Studies not reported
  No studies found

Bispectral index vs treatment guided by clinical assessment alone?

The review found no eligible studies for this question.

• BIS monitoring versus clinical assessment for sedation in mechanically ventilated adults in the intensive care unit… 2018 · Cochrane Headline outcomes only
  no estimate extracted
  Studies not reported
  No studies found

Automated monitoring systems vs usual care

It is very uncertain whether automated monitoring systems changes 30‐day mortality* compared with standard care (very low certainty).

• Automated monitoring compared to standard care for the early detection of sepsis in critically ill patients 2018 · Cochrane Headline outcomes only
  no estimate extracted
  Studies not reported
  Very low

Protocol‐directed sedation management vs usual care

Protocol‐directed sedation management showed no clear difference in ICU mortality compared with usual care (low certainty).

• Protocol‐directed sedation versus non‐protocol‐directed sedation in mechanically ventilated intensive care adults and… 2018 · Cochrane Headline outcomes only
  RR 0.77 [0.39, 1.5]
  2 studies · 513 participants
  Low

Protocol‐directed sedation management vs usual care

Protocol‐directed sedation management showed no clear difference in hospital mortality compared with usual care (low certainty).

• Protocol‐directed sedation versus non‐protocol‐directed sedation in mechanically ventilated intensive care adults and… 2018 · Cochrane Headline outcomes only
  RR 0.9 [0.72, 1.13]
  3 studies · 3082 participants
  Low

Intervention not reported

It is very uncertain whether the intervention changes mortality at longest (very low certainty).

• Oxygen targets in the intensive care unit during mechanical ventilation for acute respiratory distress syndrome: a… 2020 · Cochrane Headline outcomes only
  OR 1.83 [1.03, 3.27]
  1 study · 201 participants
  Very low

Intervention not reported

• Exercise rehabilitation following intensive care unit discharge for recovery from critical illness 2015 · Cochrane Headline outcomes only
  no estimate extracted
  4 studies · 376 participants
  Low

HALOPERIDOL vs placebo

Haloperidol showed no clear difference in in‐hospital mortality within 28 days. compared with placebo (moderate certainty).

• Interventions for preventing intensive care unit delirium in adults 2018 · Cochrane Headline outcomes only
  RR 0.98 [0.8, 1.22]
  2 studies · 1580 participants
  Moderate

Higher vs lower FiO2 or targets of arterial oxygenation

It is very uncertain whether higher changes all‐cause mortality: range 1 mo to 1 y compared with lower FiO2 or targets of arterial oxygenation (very low certainty).

• Higher versus lower fractions of inspired oxygen or targets of arterial oxygenation for adults admitted to the… 2023 · Cochrane Headline outcomes only
  RR 1.01 [0.96, 1.06]
  16 studies · 9408 participants
  Very low

Physical and cognitive therapy vs usual care

It is very uncertain whether physical and cognitive therapy changes in‐hospital mortality at 30 days or at the longest compared with standard care (very low certainty).

• Interventions for preventing intensive care unit delirium in adults 2018 · Cochrane Headline outcomes only
  RR 0.94 [0.4, 2.2]
  1 study · 65 participants
  Very low

Intervention not reported

• Exercise rehabilitation following intensive care unit discharge for recovery from critical illness 2015 · Cochrane Headline outcomes only
  no estimate extracted
  6 studies · 483 participants
  Low