Totally Transdermal Sedation in the Weaning From Remifentanil Infusion

The choice of the sedation protocol has a massive impact on the duration of mechanical ventilation and the timing of extubation. Many sedation protocols are described in the literature. No data are available about the possibility of using transdermal fentanyl as an alternative to intravenous opioids during the weaning phase from mechanical ventilation and the post-extubation period until the discharge from ICU to the ward. The investigators aim to assess if a transdermal fentanyl-based sedation protocol can have an impact on the global Work of Breathing (WOB). Secondary endpoints of the study are the duration of mechanical ventilation, the duration of continuous infusion of opioids, the length of stay in ICU and in hospital. Eligible patients will be randomized in 2 groups: Group 1 will receive remifentanil; Group 2 will receive transdermal fentanyl and remifentanil. An Edi Catheter for diaphragm electrical activity monitoring will be put in place for each patient. Statistical Analysis: Distribution normality will be assessed with the Kolmogorov-Smirnov test. Continuous variables will be reported expressed as medians (interquartile ranges). Qualitative variables will be reported as frequencies. Analysis on the primary efficacy criterion and other quantitative variables will be assessed with the Wilcoxon-Mann-Whitney test. Categorical outcomes will be compared with the chi-square test, or Fisher's exact test, as appropriate. Cochran-Mantel-Haenszel statistics will be reported for all these results. Two-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) for repeated measures with Bonferroni correction will be used to determine the differences in secondary endpoints. Comparisons between groups regarding these variables at each study time point were performed with the Student's t-test or Mann-Whitney test, as appropriate. Mean difference and 95% confidence interval \[Confidence Interval 95%\] are reported for most significant results. Two-tail p values≤0.05 Will be considered significant.