Abstract
We currently use a combination of propofol and dexmedetomidine as sedative agents during mechanical ventilation. This practice may attenuate undesirable cardiovascular effects while maintaining adequate sedation and prompt wakening. In this retrospective analysis, the dosage of each agent and estimated blood concentration were reported in 13 postsurgical cardiac patients. During mechanical ventilation, the dosage of propofol and dexmedetomidine, titrated to achieve a score of 5 on the Ramsay sedation scale, were 1.83±0.73 mg/kg/hr and 0.25±0.11μg/kg/hr, respectively. The corresponding plasma concentration were 0.98±0.42μg/ml and 0.34±0.17 ng/ml. During weaning from mechanical ventilation, the dosage and plasma concentration of propofol were 1.30±0.64 mg/kg/hr and 0.43±0.11μg/ml, respectively, while the dosage and plasma concentration of dexmedetomidine were almost identical to those of the pre-weaning period. In conclusion, the coadministration of propofol and dexmedetomidine enables us to reduce the dosage of each drug while maintaining adequate sedation.
