ABSTRACT
PURPOSE: To compare dexmedetomidine (DEX) with standard care (SC, either propofol or midazolam) for long-term sedation in terms of maintaining target sedation and length of intensive care unit (ICU) stay. METHODS: A pilot, phase III, double-blind multicenter study in randomized medical and surgical patients (n = 85) within the first 72 h of ICU stay with an expected ICU stay of >or=48 h and sedation need for >or=24 h after randomization. Patients were assigned to either DEX (Subject(s)
Dexmedetomidine/administration & dosage
, Hypnotics and Sedatives/administration & dosage
, Midazolam/administration & dosage
, Propofol/administration & dosage
, Respiration, Artificial/psychology
, Adolescent
, Adult
, Aged
, Aged, 80 and over
, Double-Blind Method
, Female
, Humans
, Intensive Care Units
, Male
, Middle Aged
, Pilot Projects
, Time Factors
, Young Adult
