A comparison of efficacy of sedation with dexmedetomidine versus midazolam in mechanically ventilated patients

Objective To compare the efficacy of sedation with dexmedetomidine versus midazolam in mechanically ventilated patients.Methods Sixty patients aged 20-64 yr,with body mass index 21-25 kg/m2,APECHE Ⅱ score 10-25,requiring 24 h of nechanical ventilation in intensive care unit (ICU),were randomly divided into 2 groups (n=30 each): midazolam group (group M) and dexmedetomidine group (group D).A loading dose of midazolam 0.05 mg/kg was injected intravenously,followed by infusion at 0.03-0.20 mg· kg-1 · h-1 in group M.A loading dose of dexmedetomidine 1 μg/kg was injected intravenously,followed by infusion at 0.2-0.7 μg· kg-1 · h-1 in group D.Ramsay sedation score was maintained at 2-4.The satisfaction of the doctors in ICU with the sedative efficacy,hypotension and bradycardia were recorded.Delirium was recorded starting from the begging of sedation to 2 h after the end of sedation.The emergence time and occurrence of falling asleep again within 2 h after waking were also recorded.Results Compared with M group,the satisfactory level of the doctors in ICU with the sedative efficacy was significantly increased,the emergence time was significantly shortened and the incidences of falling asleep again within 2 h after waking and delirium were significantly decreased (P ＜ 0.05 or 0.01),and no significant change was found in the incidence of hypotension and bradycardia in group D (P ＞ 0.05).Conclusion The efficacy of sedation with dexmedetomidine is better than that of midazolam in mechanically ventilated patients. Key words: Dexmedetomidine; Midazolam; Respiration,artificial; Conscious sedation