OBJECTIVE: Dexmedetomidine (DEX) may provide a sedation level that enables sleep 
and communication, with less amnesia and pain medication requirements, during 
mechanical ventilation. Our study directly assessed patient-perceived 
satisfaction with coronary artery bypass graft surgery after administration of 
DEX or propofol for intensive care unit (ICU) sedation.
DESIGN: Prospective, randomized clinical study with subsequent questionnaire 
administration.
SETTING: Tertiary care surgical ICU.
PATIENTS: A total of 89 adult, nonemergent, coronary artery bypass graft 
patients with an expected length of intubation of <24 hrs.
INTERVENTIONS: Patients were randomized to either DEX or propofol; drug 
administration was performed via standardized anesthesia and nursing protocols.
MEASUREMENTS: Patients reported perceptions of their ICU experience after 
mechanical ventilation with a modified numerical-scale Hewitt questionnaire, 
validated specifically for ICU patients. Patients were questioned regarding 
awareness, recall, generalized comfort, level of pain, ability to interact with 
healthcare providers and family, feelings of agitation and anxiety, perceived 
ease of extubation, ability to sleep or rest, and satisfaction with ICU 
experience.
MAIN RESULTS: Groups were well matched at baseline, with a mean +/- sd age of 
63.0 +/- 10.4 yrs and weight of 88.7 +/- 16.7 kg. No difference was observed for 
length of surgery, length of intubation, or ICU stay (p > .05). DEX patients 
perceived a shorter length of intubation (p = .044). A deeper sedation level was 
found in the propofol group (p = .021), with similar morphine and midazolam 
requirements (p = .317). Patient-rated level of overall awareness as a marker of 
amnesia did not differ between groups (p = .653). The ability to rest or sleep 
trended toward significance favoring propofol (p = .051). On evaluation of 
questionnaire ratings, DEX patients expressed more discomfort (p = .046), pain 
(p = .096), and sleeping difficulty (p = .036). Similar comfort levels were 
reported during extubation (p = .179).
CONCLUSIONS: Despite theoretical advantages of DEX to improve overall patient 
satisfaction, the two agents provide similar responses to amnesia and pain 
control. According to our findings, DEX does not seem to have any advantage 
compared with propofol for short-term sedation after coronary artery bypass 
graft surgery.