ABSTRACT
Objective To compare the efficacy of sedation with dexmedetomidine versus midazolam in mechanically ventilated patients.Methods Sixty patients aged 20-64 yr,with body mass index 21-25 kg/m2,APECHE Ⅱ score 10-25,requiring 24 h of nechanical ventilation in intensive care unit (ICU),were randomly divided into 2 groups (n=30 each): midazolam group (group M) and dexmedetomidine group (group D).A loading dose of midazolam 0.05 mg/kg was injected intravenously,followed by infusion at 0.03-0.20 mg· kg-1 · h-1 in group M.A loading dose of dexmedetomidine 1 μg/kg was injected intravenously,followed by infusion at 0.2-0.7 μg· kg-1 · h-1 in group D.Ramsay sedation score was maintained at 2-4.The satisfaction of the doctors in ICU with the sedative efficacy,hypotension and bradycardia were recorded.Delirium was recorded starting from the begging of sedation to 2 h after the end of sedation.The emergence time and occurrence of falling asleep again within 2 h after waking were also recorded.Results Compared with M group,the satisfactory level of the doctors in ICU with the sedative efficacy was significantly increased,the emergence time was significantly shortened and the incidences of falling asleep again within 2 h after waking and delirium were significantly decreased (P ＜ 0.05 or 0.01),and no significant change was found in the incidence of hypotension and bradycardia in group D (P ＞ 0.05).Conclusion The efficacy of sedation with dexmedetomidine is better than that of midazolam in mechanically ventilated patients.