Sedative Effects of Dexmedetomidine in Combination with Propofol in Patients with Atrial Fibrillation Undergoing Electrical Cardioversion following Catheter Ablation

Abstract

Background To observe the safety and effectiveness of sedation in patients with atrial fibrillation (AF) undergoing electrical cardioversion following catheter ablation using a combination of propofol and dexmedetomidine (P-D group) versus propofol alone (P group). Methods A total of 120 AF patients undergoing electrical cardioversion post-catheter ablation were enrolled from October 2020 to August 2022. They were randomly assigned to either the observation group (P-D group) or the control group (P group), with 60 patients in each group. Vital signs, adverse events, analgesic effects, and awakening time were assessed at different stages (T0-T4) in both groups. Results In P-D group, HR was lower than T0 in T1-4, the MAP and SpO2 began to decreased in T2-3.In P group, SpO2, HR and MAP in T2-4 were all inferior to baseline period of T0. Whereas, in P-D group, the descend range of MAP and SpO2 of T2, and the SpO2 of T3 were distinctly less than the P group. The adverse events including respiratory depression and bradycardia in P-D group were inferior to the P group (16.7% vs 40% P = 0.045; 13.3% vs 3.3%; P = 0.35). The satisfaction of analgesia in P-D group was apparently prominent than P group (93.3% vs 73.3%;P < 0.05). Conclusion In AF patients requiring electrical cardioversion, the combination of propofol and dexmedetomidine demonstrates good sedative and analgesic effects, significantly reducing the propofol dosage and lowering the incidence of clinical adverse events, thereby enhancing medication safety.