A comparative study of dexmedetomidine and propofol as sole sedative agents for patients with aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage undergoing diagnostic cerebral angiography

Purpose Subarachnoid hemorrhage is an acute neurological emergency requiring urgent confirmation of the diagnosis for planning definitive management. Due to altered consciousness, most patients require sedation for conducting this procedure smoothly. Currently, it is unclear if any one particular sedative drug has a favorable profile in patients undergoing cerebral angiography. The aim of this study was to compare the traditionally used sedative drug propofol with a newer alternative, dexmedetomidine, in patients with subarachnoid hemorrhage undergoing cerebral angiography.