Background: Although no ideal sedative exists, dexmedetomidine is unique because it produces sedation and analgesia without decreasing the respiratory drive. Hemodynamic responses to dexmedetomidine are variable and dependent on the patient population. Our initial experience was associated with an unacceptable incidence of hypotension and bradycardia. We evaluated occurrence of hypotension and bradycardia in critically ill surgical patients receiving dexmedetomidine before and after implementation of a dosing protocol.
Methods: This is a retrospective chart review of all admissions to a university medical center-based, 44-bed surgical intensive care unit pre and post protocol implementation.
Results: Forty-four patients received dexmedetomidine including 19 historic controls and 25 dosed via protocol. Both groups had comparable demographics and initial and maximum dosages of dexmedetomidine. Use of the dosing protocol resulted in fewer dosage changes (mean +/- standard deviation, 4.8 +/- 3.8 compared to 7.8 +/- 3.9; P = .014) and fewer episodes of hypotension (16% vs 68.4%; P = .0006) but did not influence bradycardic episodes (20% vs 15.5%; P > .99).
Conclusion: We found that use of a protocol that increases the time interval between dosage adjustments may reduce dexmedetomidine-associated hypotension.
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http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jcrc.2009.05.015 | DOI Listing |
Vet Anaesth Analg
January 2025
Department of Clinical Studies, Ontario Veterinary College, University of Guelph, Guelph, ON, Canada.
Objective: To determine the effects of rapid (1 minute) and slow (10 minutes) intravenous (IV) injection of sodium penicillin on arterial blood pressure in anesthetized horses.
Study Design: Prospective randomized clinical trial.
Animals: A group of 29 client-owned horses of various breeds, 1-20 years old, with body masses of 360-710 kg.
Br J Anaesth
January 2025
Department of Anesthesia, Pain Management & Perioperative Medicine, Dalhousie University, Halifax, NS, Canada.
Background: Moderate-to-severe pain is common after cardiac surgery, peaking during the first and second postoperative days. Several nerve blocks for sternotomy have been described; however, the optimal location for continuous catheters has not been established. This study assessed the feasibility of a larger trial evaluating the efficacy of serratus anterior plane (SAP) catheter analgesia for sternotomy pain.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFJ Pediatr
January 2025
Department of Pediatrics, University of California, San Diego; Rady Children's Hospital, San Diego, CA. Electronic address:
Objective: To describe the clinical course and outcome of 33 patients with Kawasaki disease (KD) treated with cyclosporine (CSA) for coronary artery abnormalities (CAA) or treatment resistance.
Study Design: Single-center, retrospective study of patients with KD treated from 2013 through 2023 for CAA or treatment resistance. Demographics, laboratory studies, medications, adverse events, and echocardiographic data were analyzed.
Lancet Neurol
February 2025
Department of Clinical Neurological Sciences, University of Western Ontario, London, ON, Canada; Department of Cognitive Neurology, St Joseph's Health Care London, London, ON, Canada. Electronic address:
Background: No treatments exist for apathy in people with frontotemporal dementia. Previously, in a randomised double-blind, placebo-controlled, dose-finding study, intranasal oxytocin administration in people with frontotemporal dementia improved apathy ratings on the Neuropsychiatric Inventory over 1 week and, in a randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled, crossover study, a single dose of 72 IU oxytocin increased blood-oxygen-level-dependent signal in limbic brain regions. We aimed to determine whether longer treatment with oxytocin improves apathy in people with frontotemporal dementia.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFJ Psychopharmacol
January 2025
Neuromodulation Laboratory, Department of Rehabilitation Sciences, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium.
Intranasal administration of oxytocin is emerging as a potential pharmacological option for mitigating social difficulties and regulating stress in autism spectrum disorder. However, initial single-dose and multiple-dose trials showed mixed results, with some demonstrating improvements in social and repetitive behavior and others showing no benefit over placebo. This perspective aims to elucidate factors contributing to this variability and to highlight pitfalls and opportunities in the field.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFEnter search terms and have AI summaries delivered each week - change queries or unsubscribe any time!