The Effect of Dexmedetomidine as a Sedative Agent for Mechanically Ventilated Patients With Sepsis: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Purpose: Dexmedetomidine has been shown to improve clinical outcomes in critically ill patients. However, its effect on septic patients remains controversial. Therefore, the purpose of this meta-analysis was to assess the effect of dexmedetomidine as a sedative agent for mechanically ventilated patients with sepsis.Methods: We searched PubMed, Embase, Scopus, and Cochrane Library from inception through May 2021 for randomized controlled trials that enrolled mechanically ventilated, adult septic patients comparing dexmedetomidine with other sedatives or placebo.Results: A total of nine studies involving 1,134 patients were included in our meta-analysis. The overall mortality (RR 0.97, 95%CI 0.82 to 1.13, P = 0.67, I-2 = 25%), length of intensive care unit stay (MD -1.12, 95%CI -2.89 to 0.64, P = 0.21, I-2 = 71%), incidence of delirium (RR 0.95, 95%CI 0.72 to 1.25, P = 0.70, I-2 = 0%), and delirium free days (MD 1.76, 95%CI -0.94 to 4.47, P = 0.20, I-2 = 80%) were not significantly different between dexmedetomidine and other sedative agents. Alternatively, the use of dexmedetomidine was associated with a significant reduction in the duration of mechanical ventilation (MD -0.53, 95%CI -0.85 to -0.21, P = 0.001, I-2 = 0%) and inflammatory response (TNF-alpha: MD -5.27, 95%CI -7.99 to -2.54, P < 0.001, I-2 = 0%; IL-1 beta: MD -1.25, 95%CI -1.91 to -0.59, P < 0.001, I-2 = 0%).Conclusions: For patients with sepsis, the use of dexmedetomidine as compared with other sedative agents does not affect all-cause mortality, length of intensive care unit stay, the incidence of delirium, and delirium-free days. But the dexmedetomidine was associated with the reduced duration of mechanical ventilation and inflammatory response.

Automated summary

Dexmedetomidine as a sedative agent for septic patients does not significantly affect all-cause mortality, length of stay in the ICU, and the incidence of delirium, but it is associated with a reduction in mechanical ventilation duration and inflammatory response.