Dexmedetomidine produces more sleep-like brain activity compared to propofol.

ABSTRACT:

Introduction

Dexmedetomidine is a selective α₂-adrenergic agonist used as an anesthesia adjunct to produce a state of sleep-like sedation. However, how brain activity compares quantitatively during dexmedetomidine anesthesia to that during natural sleep, and thus just how "sleep-like" dexmedetomidine anesthesia is, remains unclear. Previously, we showed that the general anesthetic propofol is associated with changes in connectivity and cortical network structure comparable to those observed during sleep. Here, we compare the effects on brain activity of dexmedetomidine, propofol, and sleep quantitatively using intracranial encephalographic (iEEG) recordings in human research participants.

Methods

iEEG recordings were obtained in 34 epilepsy patients being evaluate

SUBMITTER: Krause BM 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12154880 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Jun

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature