Dexmedetomidine versus propofol as a sedative agent in the intensive care unit: a randomized single blinded prospective study

Background: Sedation is an essential prerequisite for every ICU patient. It promotes patient comfort, helps in alleviation of anxiety, stabilizes vitals and reduces the time to extubation and ICU discharge. This study aims at comparing dexmedetomidine versus propofol in ICU sedation with respect to maintenance of vitals, time to extubation, incidence of adverse effects and cost effectiveness.Methods: 60 intubated and mechanically ventilated post-surgical ICU patients were randomly allocated to two groups of 30 each. Group D received dexmedetomidine infusion as a loading dose of 0.1mcg/kg/min IV over 10 minutes followed by maintenance infusion of 0.2-0.7mcg/kg/h IV. Group P received propofol infusion as a loading dose of 5mcg/kg/min IV over 5 minutes followed by a maintenance infusion of 0.3-3mg/kg/h IV. Patients in both groups were maintained at Richmond agitation sedation score of -1 to -2. Measurements of HR, NIBP, SpO2 were taken at regular intervals till cessation of sedation and extubation. Data thus collected was subjected to statistical analysis.Results: Dexmedetomidine was seen to be comparable to propofol as far as maintaining vitals was concerned. Group D (dexmedetomidine) had a statistically significant shorter mean duration to sedation cessation and extubation than group P (propofol). Dexmedetomidine also had the added advantages of minimal respiratory depression, decreased opioid requirements as well as greater cost effectiveness.Conclusions: Dexmedetomidine was found to be a better choice for sedation in the ICU compared to propofol

Dexmedetomidine versus propofol as a sedative agent in the intensive care unit: a randomized single blinded prospective study

Background: Sedation is an essential prerequisite for every ICU patient. It promotes patient comfort, helps in alleviation of anxiety, stabilizes vitals and reduces the time to extubation and ICU discharge. This study aims at comparing dexmedetomidine versus propofol in ICU sedation with respect to maintenance of vitals, time to extubation, incidence of adverse effects and cost effectiveness.Methods: 60 intubated and mechanically ventilated post-surgical ICU patients were randomly allocated to two groups of 30 each. Group D received dexmedetomidine infusion as a loading dose of 0.1mcg/kg/min IV over 10 minutes followed by maintenance infusion of 0.2-0.7mcg/kg/h IV. Group P received propofol infusion as a loading dose of 5mcg/kg/min IV over 5 minutes followed by a maintenance infusion of 0.3-3mg/kg/h IV. Patients in both groups were maintained at Richmond agitation sedation score of -1 to -2. Measurements of HR, NIBP, SpO2 were taken at regular intervals till cessation of sedation and extubation. Data thus collected was subjected to statistical analysis.Results: Dexmedetomidine was seen to be comparable to propofol as far as maintaining vitals was concerned. Group D (dexmedetomidine) had a statistically significant shorter mean duration to sedation cessation and extubation than group P (propofol). Dexmedetomidine also had the added advantages of minimal respiratory depression, decreased opioid requirements as well as greater cost effectiveness.Conclusions: Dexmedetomidine was found to be a better choice for sedation in the ICU compared to propofol

Antioxidant effect of ethanolic extract of <i style="">Piper betle</i> Linn. (Paan) on erythrocytes from patients with HbE-beta thalassemia

241-246HbE-beta thalassemia is caused by an interaction between HbE and defective b globin gene of thalassemia. Repeated blood transfusions cause an iron overload, triggering an enhanced generation of free radicals. In the present study, the anti-oxidant property of ethanolic extract of the leaves of Piper betle Linn. (PB) was evaluated in the erythrocytes from patients with HbE-beta thalassemia. In patients with HbE-beta thalassemia (n = 30) and age- and sex-matched healthy individuals (n = 30), the baseline level of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and free radical scavenging activity in the erythrocytes was measured by flow cytometry using dihydrodichlorofluorescein diacetate (H2DCFDA), in terms of the geometric mean fluorescence channel (GMFC). The baseline generation of ROS was significantly higher in the erythrocytes from patients with HbE-beta thalassemia, as compared to healthy volunteers, the GMFC being 67.20 ± 4.64 vs. 23.03 ± 1.88 (p2O2 (0.5-1.0 mM) induced a higher increase in the GMFC in the erythrocytes from patients with HbE-beta thalassemia, as compared to controls which was effectively reduced by PB. Taken together, PB showed promising anti-oxidant activity against the erythrocytes from patients with HbE-beta thalassemia