Dexmedetomidine Use for Sedation in Patients Submitted to Tracheal Surgery

Patients undergoing tracheal resection and reconstruction surgery are enrolled in this prospective observational pilot study to evaluate dexmedetomidine-based sedation after tracheal surgery in an Intensive Care Unit (ICU). Patients remain electively intubated with an uncuffed nasal endotracheal tube, awake and exhibit spontaneous breathing The neck was maintained in flexion through chin-to-chest sutures. Infusion of dexmedetomidine was started from a dosage of 0.7 μg kg-1 h-1 followed by dose titration to the target level of the sedation Richmond Agitation Sedation Scale, (RASS) score -1/-2 using a dose range of 0.2-1.4 μg kg-1 h-1.