Effects of dexmedetomidine on delirium and mortality during sedation in ICU patients: a systematic review and meta-analysis protocol

Factors affecting successful use of intranasal dexmedetomidine: a cohort study from a national paediatrics tertiary centre

BACKGROUND

Use of intranasal (IN) dexmedetomidine for procedural sedation has been reported in recent years. Good patient selection is important to ensure high success rates. We aimed to identify factors that influence the successful use of IN dexmedetomidine in non-invasive investigations.

METHODS

All paediatric patients who received IN dexmedetomidine for investigations between 01 July 2019 to 01 July 2020 were included. Baseline demographics, time to reach adequate sedation level, duration of sedation, dose, indications for sedation and need for rescue sedatives were recorded. Procedures were classified into "long" or "short" according to completion time. Successful sedation was defined by completion of investigations by IN dexmedetomidine alone.

RESULTS

Of 105 patients included, median age was 20.0 months, and median weight 11.0 kg. Magnetic resonance imaging (56, 53.3%) was the most common indication. Sixty (57.1%) were successfully sedated using IN dexmedetomidine alone. Automated auditory brainstem response, computerised tomography and mercaptoacetyltriglycine-3 renogram scans had the highest success rate (83.3%, 83.3%, and 100% respectively). On multivariate analysis, short procedures had an adjusted odds ratio of 5.30 (95% CI: 1.69-16.61; P=0.004) compared to long procedures.

CONCLUSIONS

IN dexmedetomidine is effective for procedural sedation for paediatric patients. The most important predictor for sedation success was indication of sedation and duration of procedures.

Effect of dexmedetomidine on delirium during sedation in adult patients in intensive care units: A systematic review and meta-analysis

STUDY OBJECTIVE

To compare the effect of sedation protocols with and without dexmedetomidine on delirium risk and duration in adult patients in intensive care units (ICUs).

DESIGN

A meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials.

REVIEW METHODS

We searched the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, PubMed, EMBASE, and ISI Web of Science from inception to September 3, 2020. We included studies comparing the effect of dexmedetomidine-based sedation on delirium risk with non-dexmedetomidine-based sedation in adult patients in ICUs. We pooled the data using a random-effects model using Review Manager 5.2, and assessed publication bias using Stata 11.0. The quality of evidence was rated using the Grading of Recommendations, Assessment, Development and Evaluation system.

MAIN RESULTS

We included 36 studies involving 9623 participants. The use of dexmedetomidine was associated with reduced risk of delirium (risk ratio [RR], 0.63; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.54-0.75; very low-quality evidence), but higher incidences of hypotension and bradycardia during hospital stay. Dexmedetomidine was also associated with shorter durations of ICU stay, hospital stay and mechanical ventilation. Dexmedetomidine did not affect ICU mortality (RR, 1.01; 95% CI, 0.89-1.14; low-quality evidence), hospital mortality (RR, 1.01; 95% CI, 0.91-1.12; very low-quality evidence), or 30-day mortality (RR, 0.77; 95% CI, 0.58-1.01; moderate-quality evidence), or duration of delirium (mean difference, -0.74 days; 95% CI, -1.83 to 0.36 days; very low-quality evidence). We identified publication bias for risk and duration of delirium, length of ICU stay, and hospital stay.

CONCLUSIONS

Low- or very low-quality evidence suggests that dexmedetomidine was associated with a clinically-small reduction of delirium risk, ICU/hospital stay and mechanical ventilation duration, but were not associated with improved mortality or shorter delirium duration in ICU patients. These findings were inconclusive because of publication bias, heterogeneity, and limited sample size. Significant adverse effects of dexmedetomidine include hypotension and bradycardia. PROSPERO registration number: CRD42018095358.