[Clinical application of dexmedetomidine in patients after thoracic and abdominal surgeries]

To study efficacy and safety of dexmedetomidine application for long-term (more than 12 hours) artificial lungs ventilation (ALV) and for psychomotor agitation.

We studied 57 patients after thoracic and abdominal surgeries. The patients were divided into three groups. Patients of a group-1 (n=18) received ALV under 12 hours, patients of group-2 (n=26) received ALV more than 12 hours. Patients of group-3 (n=13) received dexmedetomidine due to delirious state. Dexmedetomidine was administered by infusion 0.7 mkg/kg during the first hour. The rate of administration was corrected after the first hour. We recorded the level of sedation according to RASS, need of additional sedative drugs use, duration of ALV duration of ICU stay.

Dexmedetomidine infusion provides target level of sedation from 0 to -3 according to RASS in 91% of patients requiring prolonged ALV after thoracic and abdominal surgeries. Bradycardia occurred in 15% of patients and arterial hypotension in 12% of patients. Bolus administration of dexmedetomidine should be avoided.