The Effects of Dexmedetomidine to Postoperative Awakening and Extubation-related Changes in Blood Pressure
Status:
Completed
Trial end date:
2014-04-30
Target enrollment:
Participant gender:
Summary
The postoperative removal of intubation tube induces a noticeable sympathic response and
increase of blood pressure. The risk of complications is especially elevated with the
patients having cardiac surgery. Though sedation inhibits the sympathetic responses to
extubation, according to the current protocol the propofol infusion has to be discontinued
well before extubation because of its inhibitory effects on breathing centers.
Dexmedetomidine is relatively new anesthesia drug. Dexmedetomidine is unique in its
characteristic that it does not have the paralyzing effect on breathing. The aim of our study
is to work out whether dexmedetomidine-extended propofol sedation over the extubation
diminishes the aforementioned harmful effects of the extubation procedure.
Study design is prospective double-blinded randomized study. The investigators compare two
groups of 25 patients (total 50), who are of 60-90 years of age and are having either aortic
valve surgery or the mentioned accompanied with cardiopulmonary bypass operation. The first
group receives dexmedetomidine infusion and the other receives placebo infusion after the end
of propofol infusion.
The specific goal of the study is to figure what haemodynamic - mostly blood pressure related
- changes can be observed when the postoperatively cut propofol infusion is continued with
dexmedetomidine over the extubation procedure.
Our hypothesis is that by using dexmedetomidine supplemented sedation the normally notifiable
peak in blood pressure may be avoided.
The study will be carried out completely in Cardiac ICU in Tampere University Hospital.