OBJECTIVE OF THE STUDY: to analyze the efficiency and safety of Dexmedetomidine infusion for a short-term controlled sedation and treatment of delirium in the early postoperative period in patients after cardiac surgery.
METHODS: open, randomized, prospective study of 28 patients undergoing surgery on the heart or main blood vessels under general anaesthesia. In the early postoperative period all patients received an infusion of Dexmedetomidine (0.2-1.4 microg kg(-1) per hour) for sedation. The analgesia was carried out with Ketoprofen according to the protocol and Trimeperidine if VAS was > or = 3. Sedation and agitation levels were measured by Ramsay and RAAS scales, speed of awaking by Aldrete score. Duration of mechanical ventilation, length of stay in ICU, need for analgesics (VAS scale), type and frequency of side effects and vital signs (Harward standart) were recorded. Type of delirium, time of onset (days after surgery), dose and duration of psychomotor agitation were evaluated in patients with delirium (n = 9).
RESULTS: Dexmedetomidine infusion in the medium therapeutic doses resulted mild or moderate sedation remaining up to 12 hours after the infusion. More than 50% of patients had retrograde amnesia. The pain intensity did not exceed 1 point on VAS scale in 96% of patients. 23% of patients required an additional administration of Trimeperidine. The most common side effects were bradycardia (39%) and arterial hypotension (36%). The therapy with Dexmedetomidine provided the most optimal level of sedation compared to other combinations of drugs (haloperidol, midazolam, propofol) in patients with delirium according to sedation-agitation and awaking scales.
CONCLUSIONS: Dexmedetomidine provides dose-dependent sedation and retrograde amnesia without altering the verbal contact, does not cause respiratory depression. The drug has independent analgesic effect and proved to be effective in the treatment of delirium. The most frequent side effects of Dexmedetomidine are bradycardia and arterial hypotension.
