A new study, published in JAMA Surgery, examined the effects of intraoperative dexmedetomidine delivery on post-surgery delirium.
For the study, researchers randomly assigned patients to receive dexmedetomidine, a sedative, or a saline placebo infusion during surgery and for two hours while in recovery. They assessed patients daily for postoperative delirium as well as postoperative cognitive decline.
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The 404 patients included in the study were older than 68 years and underwent major elective noncardiac surgery, between February 2008 and May 2014. Of the 404 patents, 390 completed in-hospital delirium assessments.
The study showed no significant difference in postoperative delirium between the dexmedetomidine and placebo groups — 12.2 percent versus 11.4 percent. Additionally, there was no difference in postoperative cognitive performance between the two groups at three or six months post-surgery.
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