Impact of Dexmedetomidine on Analgesic Requirements in Patients After Cardiac Surgery in a Fast‐Track Recovery Room Setting

Abstract

Dexmedetomidine resulted in lower opioid requirements in patients after cardiac surgery versus those receiving propofol, but this did not result in shorter durations of mechanical ventilation, using a fast-track CVRU model.

Beneficial aspect of dexmedetomidine as a postoperative sedative for cardiac surgery

“…Dexmedetomidine is known to have analgesic and opioidsparing effects [4] and has been reported to have the same effect in major surgery, such as cardiac surgery [13]. This study showed no differences in VAS for pain and the amount of additional pain control between groups.…”

Safety and efficacy of ketamine-dexmedetomidine versus ketamine-propofol combinations for sedation in patients after coronary artery bypass graft surgery

“…believed that dexmedetomidine is a good sedative in postoperative cardiac patients as it has no effect on respiratory function, minimizes opioid use, and decreases sympathetic discharge thus decreases times to extubation and intensive care length of stay and hospital length of stay. [19] Furthermore, Herr et al . compared dexmedetomidine-based versus propofol-based sedation regimens and found that propofol group patients needed a 4 times total dose of morphine than that of dexmedetomidine group patients and showed that dexmedetomidine was more effective compared with propofol in achieving a goal level of sedation.…”

Comparison of fast track protocol and standard care in patients undergoing elective open colorectal resection: a meta-analysis update

“…In recent years, fast-track protocol has been successfully applied to general (Counihan & Favuzza, 2009;Hasenberg et al, 2010;Wang, Kong, Zhong, Zhou, & Zhou, 2010), orthopedic Holm et al, 2010), urological (Pruthi et al, 2010), cardiovascular (Barletta, Miedema, Wiseman, Heiser, & McAllen, 2009;Lohr, Keller, Kutscher, & Huber, 2008), and thoracic (Das-Neves-Pereira et al, 2009; Muhling, Orend, & Sunder-Plassmann, 2009) surgery, and clinical outcomes showed significantly relieved postoperative stress, reduced hospital stay associated with complications, and accelerated recovery without compromising readmission rate or mortality.…”