European Journal of Molecular & Clinical Medicine

Abstract

Aims and Objectives: To compare the efficacy of sedation and time taken for extubation using
dexmedetomidine and fentanyl sedation in post-operative adult cardiac surgical patients.
Methods: A prospective randomized double-blind study involving 60 patients undergoing open heart surgery was conducted. The patients were divided into two groups, each involving 30 patients. One group received fentanyl at 1 µg/kg/h (Group A) and the other received dexmedetomidine at 0.5 µg/kg/h (Group B) for post-operative sedation with intermittent rescue dose of  fentanyl 0.5 µg/kg bolus in either group as per requirement. The efficacy of sedation was assessed using the Ramsay sedation score. The time taken for extubation from the stoppage of infusion was noted.
An open heart surgery prospective randomized double-blind trial including 60 patients was carried out. Two groups of 30 patients each were formed from the patients. With occasional rescue doses of fentanyl 0.5 g/kg bolus in either group as needed, one group (Group A) received fentanyl at 1 g/kg/h and the other (Group B) received dexmedetomidine at 0.5 g/kg/h for post-operative sedation. The Ramsay sedation score was used to evaluate the effectiveness of the sedation. It was noticed how long it took to extubate once the infusion was stopped.
 Results: Haemodynamic parameters between the two groups were comparable.  Sedation scores between fentanyl and dexmedetomidine groups were comparable. Average time (in minutes) required for extubation was 140.04 (±43.6 SD) in the dexmedetomidine group compared with 359.4 (±93.3 SD) in the fentanyl group. The difference in mean time for extubation was statistically significant.