Author(s): Nasibova E. M*, Ali-zade K. E
Background: Postoperative delirium is a serious complication in cardiac surgery patients, which leads to the development of long-term cognitive impairment, dementia, long-term hospitalization and this is becoming an important socio-economic problem in the modern world.
Purpose of the study: Evaluation of the effectiveness of using dexmedetomidine as part of multicomponent anesthesia for the prevention of postoperative delirium in cardiac surgery patients.
Material and methods: The study was conducted in the surgical clinic of the AMU. The study included 90 patients who underwent planned coronary artery bypass grafting at the age of 55-85 years with no history of mental disorders or dementia. The patients were divided into 2 groups: The main group (using dexmedetomidine) and the control group. During the work, the following examination methods were performed on all patients: A thorough study of the anamnesis; mean arterial pressure, heart rate; duration of anesthesia and surgery; the need for inotropic (dopamine) and vasopressor (norepinephrine) support; the presence of postoperative delirium, its duration and the number of points on the Nu-DESC scale; duration of mechanical ventilation; the length of patients' stay in the intensive care unit and in the hospital. The Nu-DESC scale was used to diagnose postoperative delirium. A result of ≥ 2 was considered positive.
Results and discussion: Postoperative delirium was detected in only 10 patients: 1 in the main group (with dexmedetomidine) and 9 in the control group. The incidence of postoperative delirium was 2.57%, compared to 28.5% in the control group.
Conclusions: Intraoperative dexmedetomidine infusion does not significantly increase the duration of prolonged mechanical ventilation in patients. Dexmedetomidine does not affect the length of the patient's stay in the intensive care unit or the length of hospitalization.
