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Heidi Engel

ICU physical therapist, PT, DPT, at UCSF Medical Center; creator of the first UCSF ICU Early Mobility Program and frequent guest on Walking Home From The ICU.

Oct 4, 2026

Wes Ely
Wes ElyGUEST
12:26
That's the way that trial proved a life-saving benefit.
12:29
My question is, with the sedation awakening.
12:33
So number one, in rounds, I rarely hear the harms of sedation managed.
12:38
I feel like the purpose of the sedation awakening is often presented as part of a weaning process.
12:45
And so I find awakening trials often being things like, "We've turned the propofol down from 50 to 20, and their eyes are opening, so that's our awakening trial." The other thing I often hear is how they of course need some sedation.
13:01
It always makes the patient more comfortable.
13:04
But I feel like within all those conversations that present sedation as compassionate, providing comfort, needing to be lowered, not turned off completely, I find in those conversations, which are far more prevalent than I ever hear the conversation saying sedation is harmful, i- is lost the purpose, the whole purpose of removing the sedation.

24 MINS LATER

Wes Ely
Wes ElyGUEST
37:02
In the studies where it's implemented early, what Haley, what Kaylee just said is accurate.

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