Abstract
BACKGROUND : Dexmedetomidine, a highly selective alpha 2-agonist, could be beneficial for patients after neurosurgical operations, because it provides a unique "conscious sedation" (patients appear to be asleep, but are readily roused), with sympathetic suppressive effects. METHODS : Twenty patients were sedated postoperatively with continuous intravenous infusion of dexmedetomidine in the intensive care unit. Measurements of blood pressure and heart rate before the operation and during the infusion were compared by paired t-test. RESULTS : Blood pressure and heart rate were significantly reduced postoperatively (n = 20, p < 0.05). Seven patients, whose preoperative levels of consciousness were clear, exhibited "conscious sedation" after surgery under dexmedetomidine infusion. Neurological examinations could be performed on these patients. Eight patients exhibited bradycardia or hypotension in the intensive care unit. With the exception of one patient with a heart rate less than 40 beats/min, sympathetic suppressive effects of dexmedetomidine were observed in the other seven patients and hemodynamic and general conditions were stable. CONCLUSIONS : We believe that dexmedetomidine is a useful adjunct for the management of postoperative neurosurgical patients in the intensive care unit.
