The Effect of Dexmedetomidine on Outcomes of Cardiac Surgery in Elderly Patients

(Abstracted from J Cardiothorac Vasc Anesth, 30(6):1502–1508, 2016) The purpose of this retrospective investigation was to study the effects of the perioperative use of dexmedetomidine (Dex) on outcomes in elderly patients undergoing cardiac surgery. Dexmedetomidine, a highly selective α2-adrenergic agonist, controls the activity of the sympathetic nervous system by binding to the α2-receptors present in both the central and peripheral nervous systems and inhibiting the release of norepinephrine, thus modulating sympathetic activity.
Source: Survey of Anesthesiology - Category: Anesthesiology Tags: Geriatric Anesthesia Source Type: research