Safety and efficacy of dexmedetomidine for long-term sedation in critically ill patients.

ABSTRACT:

Purpose

We evaluated the safety and efficacy of long-term administration of dexmedetomidine in patients in the intensive care unit (ICU). Primary endpoint was the incidence of hypotension, hypertension, and bradycardia. Secondary endpoints were withdrawal symptoms, rebound effects, the duration of sedation with Richmond Agitation-Sedation Scale (RASS) ≤ 0 relative to the total infusion time of dexmedetomidine, and the dose of additional sedatives or analgesics.

Methods

Dexmedetomidine 0.2-0.7 μg/kg/h was continuously infused for maintaining RASS ≤ 0 in patients requiring sedation in the ICU. Safety and efficacy of short-term (≤ 24 h) and long-term (>24 h) dexmedetomidine administration were compared.

Results

Seventy-five surgical and medical ICU patients were administ

SUBMITTER: Ozaki M 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3921449 | biostudies-literature | 2014 Feb

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature