SEDATION WITH DEXMEDETOMIDINE REDUCES THE DURATION OF DELIRIUM TREATMENT IN SUFFERERS WITH SEVERE CONCOMITANT TRAUMA

Rationale : Delirium would deteriorate the outcomes and treatment results in the patients with severe concomitant trauma. Its treatment efficacy is especially relevant for such patients. Aim : To identify an optimal sedation strategy for delirium in the sufferers with severe concomitant trauma. Materials and methods : Sixty (60) patients with delirium that developed against the background of severe concomitant trauma were included into this randomized, retrospective-prospective study. One group of patients (n=30) was sedated with dexmedetomidine, the other one (n=30), with propofol. Results : In the group with dexmedetomidine sedation, the duration of delirium was 6 [5–6] days, whereas in the propofol group, 7 [6–8] days (p=0.003). The type of sedation was not associated with the severity of delirium, whose maximum ICDSC score was 7 [4–7] points in the propofol group and 6 [4–6] points in the dexmedetomidine group (p=0.32). Conclusion : Compared to propofol, dexmedetomidine may help to reduce the duration of treatment for non-specific delirium in severe concomitant trauma by 1 day.