Clinical Drug Experience Knowledgebase

PREHOSPITAL AGITATION AND SEDATION TRIAL (PHAST)

The goal of the PHAST is to demine whether haloperidol is superior to midazolam for the sedation of agitated patients in the prehospital environment

The primary outcome is the time to a Richmond Agitation and Sedation Scale (RASS) ≤1

o The RASS is a well validated standardized score to measure a patient's agitation

The secondary outcomes are

Time until RASS returns to 0 or 1 if RASS <0
Need for additional sedation
Adverse effects (need for intubation, arrhythmia)
Mercy EMS will be the only EMS agency in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania carrying haloperidol
Identification of potential study patients will be per state protocols
Exclusion Criteria for the study
Age <18
Pregnant
Allergic to study medication
Transport to hospital other than Mercy Fitzgerald Hospital
Unable to reach medical command prior to giving medication
When a paramedic identifies a possible study candidate, the paramedic will consult medical command to see if the patient is appropriate for the study
If the medical command agrees the patient is appropriate for the study, patients will be randomized to
Odd days: Haloperidol 5mg IM (age <65) or haloperidol 2.5 mg IM (age ≥65)
Even days: Midazolam 0.05 mg IM to maximum of 5mg IM (age <65) or maximum of 2.5mg (age ≥65)
The RASS will be documented by the prehospital providers every 5 minutes until arrival at the hospital
Once the patient arrives at the ED, the RASS will be documented in PICIS® by the emergency department nurse at the time of triage and at a minimum of hourly until the RASS =0 or 1 for 2 consecutive hours
Questions may be directed to Dr. Isenberg at disenberg@mercyhealth.org or at (267) 205-6453

Richmond Agitation Sedation Scale

RASS RASS Description

4 Combative, violent, danger to staff
3 Pulls or removes tube(s) or catheters; aggressive
2 Frequent non-purposeful movement

1 Anxious, apprehensive, but not aggressive 0 Alert and calm

1 Awakens to voice (eye opening/contact) >10 sec
2 Light sedation, briefly awakens to voice (eye opening/contact) <10 sec
3 Moderate sedation, movement or eye opening. No eye contact
4 Deep sedation, no response to voice, but movement or eye opening to physical stimulation
5 Unarousable, no response to voice or physical stimulation