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Preliminary UK experience of dexmedetomidine, a novel agent for postoperative sedation in the intensive care unit
Author(s) -
Venn R. M.,
Bradshaw C. J.,
Spencer R.,
Brealey D.,
Caudwell E.,
Naughton C.,
Vedio A.,
Singer M.,
Feneck R.,
Treacher D.,
Willatts S. M.,
Grounds R. M.
Publication year - 1999
Publication title -
anaesthesia
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.839
H-Index - 117
eISSN - 1365-2044
pISSN - 0003-2409
DOI - 10.1046/j.1365-2044.1999.01114.x
Subject(s) - dexmedetomidine , medicine , sedation , midazolam , anesthesia , sedative , intensive care unit , placebo , mechanical ventilation , morphine , clonidine , adverse effect , intensive care medicine , pharmacology , alternative medicine , pathology
Dexmedetomidine, a highly selective and potent α 2 ‐adrenergic agonist, has a potentially useful role as a sedative agent in patients requiring intensive care. As part of a larger European multicentre trial, a total of 119 postoperative cardiac and general surgical patients requiring ventilation and sedation in an intensive care unit were enrolled in four centres in the United Kingdom. One hundred and five patients were randomly allocated to receive either dexmedetomidine or placebo with rescue sedation and analgesia provided by midazolam and morphine, respectively. Compared with the control group, intubated patients receiving dexmedetomidine required 80% less midazolam [mean 4.9 (5.8) μg.kg −1 .h −1 vs. 23.7 (27.5) μg.kg −1 .h −1 , p < 0.0001], and 50% less morphine [11.2 (13.4) μg.kg −1 .h −1 vs. 21.5 (19.4) μg.kg −1 .h −1 ,p = 0.0006]. Cardiovascular effects and adverse events could be predicted from the known properties of alpha‐2 agonists. In conclusion, dexmedetomidine is a useful agent for the provision of postoperative analgesia and sedation.