Electroencephalography-based evaluation of the impact of night-time nursing care on sleep during intensive care unit administration after cardiac surgery.

After highly invasive cardiac surgery, critically ill patients require night-time nursing care for life support. Even in patients administered dexmedetomidine for sedation, nursing care potentially disrupts sleep and affects circadian rhythms. However, the impact of night-time nursing care on sleep in intensive care unit (ICU) patients have not been objectively evaluated, and the effects of sedatives have not been objectively confirmed. The current study investigated how night-time nursing care affected sleep in patients who had undergone cardiac surgery, by analyzing dynamic changes in electroencephalogram (EEG) data. Two groups were investigated: a dexmedetomidine group and a non-dexmedetomidine group. The decision whether to administer dexmedetomidine was based on clinical judgment. EEG data were extracted for 30 s intervals before and after performing care for 150 s. Power spectrum density (PSD) was analysed using a linear mixed-effects model. In both groups, PSD (alpha and beta bands) was significantly higher after care than before care. Intermittent sleep occurred during nursing care even in patients under dexmedetomidine sedation. Thus, regardless of whether sedatives are used nighttime nursing care causes sleep interruptions, and centralizing nursing and routine care is crucial to ensure good sleep.