Effects of dexmedetomidine on postoperative outcomes in adult non-cardiac surgical patients admitted to the intensive care unit: a systematic review and network meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials.
A sedative drug may reduce confusion after surgery in ICU patients, though it doesn't shorten hospital stays and carries a heart-rate slowing risk.
The role of dexmedetomidine in patients admitted to the intensive care unit (ICU) following non-cardiac surgery remains unclear. Dexmedetomidine may reduce postoperative delirium in non-cardiac surgical ICU patients but does not appear to improve ventilatory recovery or ICU length of stay and is associated with higher bradycardia risk.
What the study was
- Study design
- Meta-analysis
- Population
- Human participants
- Sample size
- 2777
- Category
- Other
- Maturity
- Potentially Practice-Changing
- Journal
- Anaesthesia, critical care & pain medicine
Why it surfaced
Conservative v1.3 triage: Meta-analysis; score 8/10 from novelty 2, relevance 2, design quality 2, and population/unmet need 2.
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