Postoperative Recovery in Elderly Patients Undergoing Hip Hemi-arthroplasty
Status:
Unknown status
Trial end date:
2014-06-01
Target enrollment:
Participant gender:
Summary
Hip fractures incidence grows rapidly with the aging of the population. After indicated
surgical treatment, hip fracture patients experience high rates of postoperative
complications, postoperative delirium (PD), postoperative cognitive dysfunction (POCD),
leading to poor postoperative recovery during hospitalization, which can cause disability,
distress for both patients and their families, are associated with other medical
complications and account for significant additional health care costs. We currently use
dexmedetomidine in elderly patients with hip fractures undergoing hip hemi-arthroplasty in
order to improve postoperative recovery and prevent and treating PD and POCD.
Dexmedetomidine is a drug used for sedation in critically ill patients that provides some
pain relief and controls the bodies response to stress. The sedation produced by
dexmedetomidine appears more similar to natural sleep than any other drug used for anesthesia
and postoperative sedation. Data suggesting that dexmedetomidine can prevent delirium
following cardiac surgery and the developing understanding of the causes of PD and POCD
suggest that dexmedetomidine will be particularly effective.