Dexmedetomidine During Therapeutic Hypothermia: A Multicenter Quality Initiative

Sedation is typically used during neonatal therapeutic hypothermia (TH). This report describes a quality improvement (QI) initiative with the aim of decreasing opioid exposure during TH by implementing dexmedetomidine as the primary sedative agent.

This dual-center QI initiative used a multidisciplinary team to create a sedation algorithm for safe implementation of dexmedetomidine as first-line therapy during TH. The primary measure in this initiative was cumulative opioid exposure during TH; balancing measures included safety parameters, primarily the rate of dexmedetomidine discontinuation because of bradycardia. Baseline demographic and clinical data were collected retrospectively for the period before implementation and prospectively during the QI period. Data were analyzed using statistical process control charts to identify change over time.

One-hundred and fifty-four neonates in the 2-year pre-QI period were compared with 135 neonates in the 2 years after guideline implementation. Guideline compliance with dexmedetomidine initiation was 99% and compliance with initial dosing increased from 70% to 91% during the QI period. The cumulative dose of opioid during TH decreased by >90% by the end of the QI period. Dexmedetomidine was discontinued for transient bradycardia in 9.6% of the study population. No other adverse effects were observed.

Dexmedetomidine may be used as the primary sedative during neonatal TH with a low incidence of adverse effects. Clinical trials evaluating the impact of sedation during TH on neurologic outcomes are needed.