Pathology

Clinical endpoint

Placebo

Sedation

Dexmedetomidine

Surgery

Intensive care medicine

Randomized controlled trial

Propofol

Alternative medicine

Sedative

Delirium

Loading dose

Anesthesia

Medicine

British Journal of Anaesthesia

Postoperative delirium (POD) is a frequent complication in older patients. Dexmedetomidine might be effective in decreasing the incidence of POD. We hypothesised that adding low-dose rate dexmedetomidine infusion to a propofol sedation regimen would have fewer side-effects and would counteract the possible delirium producing properties of propofol, resulting in a lower risk of POD than propofol with placebo.

Propofol plus low-dose dexmedetomidine infusion and postoperative delirium in older patients undergoing cardiac surgery