Stress response during early sedation with dexmedetomidine compared with usual-care in ventilated critically ill patients

John P. R. Moore, Yahya Shehabi, Michael C. Reade, Michael Bailey, John F. Fraser, Lauren Murray, Christopher Anstey and Mervyn Singer. Crit Care DOI 10.1186/s13054-022-04237-0

Abstract: Sedative agents may variably impact the stress response. Dexmedetomidine is a sympatholytic alpha2-adrenergic agonist mainly used as a second-line sedative agent in mechanically ventilated patients. We hypothesised that early sedation with dexmedetomidine as the primary agent would result in a reduced stress response compared to usual sedatives in critically ill ventilated adults.