Evaluation of Efficacy of Intravenous Dexmedetomidinein Post-Operative Care of Cardiac Surgery Patients

Background: Cardiac surgery is associated with a high risk of cardiovascular and other complications that translate into increased mortality and healthcare costs. The hemodynamic stabilizing and sympatholytic effects of -2 agonists can potentially reduce postoperative cardiovascular complications. This study was designed to evaluate the efficacy of Dexmedetomidine in cardiac surgery patients in post -operative period. Material& Methods: The present study was undertaken at a tertiary care hospital.123 adult patients from either gender undergoing various cardiac surgical procedures were included and historical analysis from pooled data of various meta-analyses were then compared. Outcomes measured included mortality and postoperative major adverse cardio-cerebral events (stroke, coma, perioperative myocardial infarction, heart block, or cardiac arrest). Secondary outcomes included renal failure, sepsis, delirium, postoperative ventilation hours, length of hospital stay, and 30-day readmission. Results: Mean Length of stay (LOS) in ICCU was found to be 11.21 +/- SD 5.14 days with no incidence of 30 day re-admission. Mean ventilatory hours was found to be 15.28 +/- SD 5.45 Hrs with 3.3 % incidence of post-operative delirium. There was no incidence of renal failure post operatively or requirement of post op dialysis. There were total 19 (15.4 %) patients who developed peri-op Myocardial Infarction which was managed conservatively. There were total 16 (13 %) patients who developed sepsis which were managed conservatively. There were total 12 mortality (9.75 %) in the study group of which 11 (8.9 %) occurred within 30 days of surgery in the same hospital admission whereas one occurred in out of hospital setting. Conclusion: Use of Intravenous Dexmedetomidine in the post-operative period of patients undergoing cardiac surgical procedures significantly reduces length of mechanical ventilation and incidence of delirium analysing historically with Meta analytic pooled data.