Pediatr Crit Care Me
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Pediatr Crit Care Me · Jun 2015
Intraoperative Dexmedetomidine Reduces Postoperative Mechanical Ventilation in Infants After Open Heart Surgery.
The inclusion of dexmedetomidine in the operative and postoperative management of infants with congenital heart defects has lessened the need for opioids that may cause respiratory depression. Our objective was to show that a dexmedetomidine bolus at or about the time of sternal closure is associated with a decrease in the use of mechanical ventilation in the immediate postoperative period. ⋯ The use of dexmedetomidine bolus in the operating room at the time of sternal closure in infants undergoing open heart surgery is associated with reduced need for mechanical ventilation in the immediate postoperative period.