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Clinical Trial
. 2000;4(5):302-8.
doi: 10.1186/cc712. Epub 2000 Jul 31.

Respiratory effects of dexmedetomidine in the surgical patient requiring intensive care

R M Venn  1 , J Hell, R M Grounds
Affiliations
Clinical Trial

Respiratory effects of dexmedetomidine in the surgical patient requiring intensive care

R M Venn et al. Crit Care. 2000.

Abstract

STATEMENT OF FINDINGS: The respiratory effects of dexmedetomidine were retrospectively examined in 33 postsurgical patients involved in a randomised, placebo-controlled trial after extubation in the intensive care unit (ICU). Morphine requirements were reduced by over 50% in patients receiving dexmedetomidine. There were no differences in respiratory rates, oxygen saturations, arterial pH and arterial partial carbon dioxide tension (PaCO2) between the groups. Interestingly the arterial partial oxygen tension (PaO2) : fractional inspired oxygen (FIO2) ratios were statistically significantly higher in the dexmedetomidine group. Dexmedetomidine provides important postsurgical analgesia and appears to have no clinically important adverse effects on respiration in the surgical patient who requires intensive care.

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Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Respiratory rate for the 6-h periods before and after extubation. (Filled circle) Dexmedetomidine; (Empty circle) placebo. Values are expressed as mean ± standard deviation.
Figure 2
Figure 2
PaCO2 (PCO2) for the 6-h periods before and after extubation, and baseline values (B) on admission to ICU immediately after surgery. (Filled circle) Dexmedetomidine; (Empty circle) placebo. Values are expressed as mean ± standard deviation.
Figure 3
Figure 3
PaO2 : FIO2 ratio for the 6-h periods before and after extubation, and baseline values (B) on admission to ICU immediately after surgery. (Filled circle) Dexmedetomidine; (Empty circle) placebo. Values are expressed as mean ± standard deviation.
Figure 4
Figure 4
Requirements for rescue analgesia with morphine during the extubation period for patients receiving dexmedetomidine and placebo. Values are medians; boxes indicate 25-75th percentiles and bars indicate the range.
Figure 5
Figure 5
Oxygen saturation measured by pulse oximetry for the 6-h periods before and after extubation. (Filled circle) Dexmedetomidine; (Empty circle) placebo. Values are expressed as mean ± standard deviation.
Figure 6
Figure 6
Arterial pH for the 6 hour periods before and after extubation, and baseline values (B) on admission to ICU immediately after surgery. (Filled circle) Dexmedetomidine; (Empty circle) placebo. Values are expressed as mean ± standard deviation.
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References

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