Impacts of Low-Dose Dexmedetomidine on Sleep Quality in Mechanically Ventilated ICU Patients
Status:
Completed
Trial end date:
2019-11-30
Target enrollment:
Participant gender:
Summary
Sleep disturbances frequently occur in intensive care unit (ICU) patients undergoing
mechanical ventilation. In a previous study, sedative dose dexmedetomidine (median 0.6
microgram/kg/h) improved sleep quality in mechanically ventilated patients. However, for
mechanically ventilated patients, light sedation is better than deep sedation for the
outcomes, which is manifested as shortened length of ICU stay, shortened duration of
mechanical ventilation, and decreased mortality. In a recent study of the investigators,
non-sedative low-dose dexmedetomidine (0.1 microgram/kg/h) improved sleep quality in
non-mechanically ventilated elderly patients admitted to the ICU after surgery. The
investigators hypothesize that, in mechanically ventilated patients who are admitted to the
ICU after surgery, low-dose dexmedetomidine may also improve sleep quality.