Sedation With Dexmedetomidine in Critically Ill Burn Patients Reduced Delirium During Weaning From Mechanical Ventilation.

INTRODUCTION

Weaning of mechanical ventilation while maintaining appropriate pain control and preventing delirium is one of the most challenging aspects of burn care. Dexmedetomidine, an α2-adrenergic receptor agonist used for sedation may improve intensive care unit (ICU) patients' arousal status and enhance patient comfort.

OBJECTIVES

To determine the efficacy of dexmedetomidine vs. standardized usual care (midazolam or propofol) in maintaining sedation and reducing delirium in burn patients while weaning off mechanical ventilation.

MATERIAL AND

METHODS

A total of 56 mechanically ventilated patients who fulfilled the criteria for weaning were enrolled in the study. Group 1 (26 patients) received dexmedetomidine 1 mcg/kg over 15 minutes as a loading dose, followed by 0.4-0.1 mcg/kg/h. Group 2 (30 patients) received usual sedation with midazolam 0.08 mg/kg/h or propofol 15- 30 mcg /kg/min).

RESULTS

Dexmedetomidine was not associated with a significantly shorter duration of mechanical ventilation (Mean {IQR}: 9.3 {4,12} versus 7.5 {4,10}, p=0.3). Patients who received dexmedetomidine had a lower delirium rate (38,4% on Day 1 to 7,7% on Day 5) in comparison with patients from the usual care group (53,3% on Day 1 to 20% on Day 5) during the five days after the onset of weaning process (p=0.02) and had less need for supplemental use of analgesia (23.1% versus 53.3%, p=0.045) and antipsychotic agents (15.4% versus 53.3%, p=0.01). The most notable adverse effect of dexmedetomidine was bradycardia.

CONCLUSIONS

Dexmedetomidine may provide effective light sedation and is associated with fewer sedation-related adverse effects in burn patients. Sedation with dexmedetomidine during the weaning process in adult burn patients was associated with lower delirium rates, a trend towards the earlier withdrawal of mechanical ventilation but did not seem to improve the total duration of mechanical ventilation.