Evidence map›Paper›PMID 42056241›Full record

ArticleJournal of perinatology : official journal of the California Perinatal Association2026

Tiny doses, big impact: Optimizing sedation weaning to reduce opioid use in a Level IV NICU.

Tara Glenn, Jeanne Carroll, Amy Kimball, Mark Speziale, Gale Romanowski, Nona Chamankhah, Halli Helgeson, Elaine Sim, Jennifer Kimmel, Jane Kang and 5 more

Abstract read
PubMed Publisher
In one paragraph

Article in Journal of perinatology : official journal of the California Perinatal Association, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
0citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

0 citing papers in PubMed.

No citing paper in PubMed yet.

4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

15 authors.

Tara GlennDepartment of Pediatrics, University of California, San Diego School of Medicine, San Diego, CA, USA. tglenn2@rchsd.org.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0002-5313-3005
Jeanne CarrollDepartment of Pediatrics, University of California, San Diego School of Medicine, San Diego, CA, USA.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0003-3673-0323
Amy KimballDepartment of Pediatrics, University of California, San Diego School of Medicine, San Diego, CA, USA.
Mark SpezialeDepartment of Pediatrics, University of California, San Diego School of Medicine, San Diego, CA, USA.
Gale RomanowskiRady Children's Hospital, San Diego, CA, USA.
Nona ChamankhahRady Children's Hospital, San Diego, CA, USA.
Halli HelgesonDepartment of Pharmacy, Children's Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, USA.ORCID http://orcid.org/0009-0004-5032-3155
Elaine SimDepartment of Pharmacy, Children's Healthcare of Atlanta, Atlanta, GA, USA.
Jennifer KimmelRady Children's Hospital, San Diego, CA, USA.
Jane KangRady Children's Hospital, San Diego, CA, USA.
Amie WongRady Children's Hospital, San Diego, CA, USA.
Peggy GrimmRady Children's Hospital, San Diego, CA, USA.
Michael Van GorderRady Children's Hospital, San Diego, CA, USA.
Danielle HeathRady Children's Hospital, San Diego, CA, USA.ORCID http://orcid.org/0009-0002-7317-3132
Laurel MoyerDepartment of Pediatrics, University of California, San Diego School of Medicine, San Diego, CA, USA.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

objectiveInfants in the NICU often require prolonged sedation, increasing risk for iatrogenic withdrawal. We aimed to reduce mean opioid exposure by 20% (26 to 21 days) by May 2023, with sustained improvement through May 2024. STUDY

designA multidisciplinary team used the Model for Improvement with iterative Plan-Do-Study-Act cycles and EHR tools to implement a standardized sedation-weaning guideline. Applicable outcome, process, and balancing measures were analyzed using statistical process control charts.

resultsAmong patients receiving >4 days of opioids, mean exposure decreased from 26 to 17 days, length of stay from 70 to 50 days; and overall dexmedetomidine exposure from 18 to 12 days. Adherence to individualized weaning plans improved and feedback indicated effective withdrawal management.

conclusionsStandardized weaning reduced opioid exposure, LOS, and sedative use, enhancing safety, care quality, and NICU capacity.

Identifiers

PMID42056241

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.