Dexmedetomidine Versus Midazolam-Fentanyl for Analgesia and Sedation

Postoperative sedation is an essential component in recovery of the patient undergoing cardiac surgery. It facilitates the patient's unawareness of the environment as well as reduce the discomfort and anxiety caused by surgery, intubation, mechanical ventilation, suction, and physiotherapy.

Despite the advances in anesthesia and surgical techniques, the duration of mechanical ventilation (MV) may be prolonged after cardiac surgery, due to the classic high-dose narcotic-based cardiac anesthesia.