Comparison of dexmedetomidine and midazolam for sedation after cardiac surgery

Objective To observe the comparison of dexmedetomidine and midazolam for sedation after cardiac surgery.Methods 200 patients after cardiac surgery were randomly assigned to one of two groups.One group received dexmedetomidine(1 μg/kg) over 10 min,followed immediately by a continuous infusion of 0.2-0.7 μg/kg/h,whereas the other group received midazolam(0.05 mg/kg) over 10 min,followed immediately by a continuous infusion of 0.02-0.1 mg/kg/h.Arterial blood pressures,heart rate, respiratory,oxygen saturation were measured before and after treatment.Results There was no significant difference in Ramssay score between two groups.Onset time and recovery time was faster in Dexmedetomidine groups,but incidence of delirium;hypotension,respiratory depression and bradycardia were significantly lower than those in midazolam group.Conclusion Dexmedetomidine is safe and effective in patients after cardiac surgery.