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Dexmedetomidine for analgesia and sedation in newborn infants receiving mechanical ventilation

Lim, Jia Yi ; Ker, Chin Jin ; Lai, Nai Ming ; Romantsik, Olga LU ; Fiander, Michelle and Tan, Kenneth (2024) In Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews 2024(5).
Abstract

Background: Dexmedetomidine is a selective alpha-2 agonist with minimal impact on the haemodynamic profile. It is thought to be safer than morphine or stronger opioids, which are drugs currently used for analgesia and sedation in newborn infants. Dexmedetomidine is increasingly being used in children and infants despite not being licenced for analgesia in this group. Objectives: To determine the overall effectiveness and safety of dexmedetomidine for sedation and analgesia in newborn infants receiving mechanical ventilation compared with other non-opioids, opioids, or placebo. Search methods: We searched CENTRAL, MEDLINE, Embase, CINAHL, and two trial registries in September 2023. Selection criteria: We planned to include randomised... (More)

Background: Dexmedetomidine is a selective alpha-2 agonist with minimal impact on the haemodynamic profile. It is thought to be safer than morphine or stronger opioids, which are drugs currently used for analgesia and sedation in newborn infants. Dexmedetomidine is increasingly being used in children and infants despite not being licenced for analgesia in this group. Objectives: To determine the overall effectiveness and safety of dexmedetomidine for sedation and analgesia in newborn infants receiving mechanical ventilation compared with other non-opioids, opioids, or placebo. Search methods: We searched CENTRAL, MEDLINE, Embase, CINAHL, and two trial registries in September 2023. Selection criteria: We planned to include randomised controlled trials (RCTs) and quasi-RCTs evaluating the effectiveness of dexmedetomidine compared with other non-opioids, opioids, or placebo for sedation and analgesia in neonates (aged under four weeks) requiring mechanical ventilation. Data collection and analysis: We used standard Cochrane methods. Our primary outcomes were level of sedation and level of analgesia. Our secondary outcomes included days on mechanical ventilation, number of infants requiring additional medication for sedation or analgesia (or both), hypotension, neonatal mortality, and neurodevelopmental outcomes. We planned to use GRADE to assess the certainty of evidence for each outcome. Main results: We identified no eligible studies for inclusion. We identified four ongoing studies, two of which appear to be eligible for inclusion; they will compare dexmedetomidine with fentanyl in newborn infants requiring surgery. We listed the other two studies as awaiting classification pending assessment of full reports. One study will compare dexmedetomidine with morphine in asphyxiated newborns undergoing hypothermia, and the other (mixed population, age up to three years) will evaluate dexmedetomidine versus ketamine plus dexmedetomidine for echocardiography. The planned sample size of the four studies ranges from 40 to 200 neonates. Data from these studies may provide some evidence for dexmedetomidine efficacy and safety. Authors' conclusions: Despite the increasing use of dexmedetomidine, there is insufficient evidence supporting its routine use for analgesia and sedation in newborn infants on mechanical ventilation. Furthermore, data on dexmedetomidine safety are scarce, and there are no data available on its long-term effects. Future studies should address the efficacy, safety, and long-term effects of dexmedetomidine as a single drug therapy for sedation and analgesia in newborn infants.

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organization
publishing date
type
Contribution to journal
publication status
published
subject
in
Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews
volume
2024
issue
5
article number
CD012361
publisher
Wiley-Blackwell
external identifiers
  • pmid:38695625
  • scopus:85192031338
ISSN
1465-1858
DOI
10.1002/14651858.CD012361.pub2
language
English
LU publication?
yes
id
8d883509-b233-4791-bb44-35d90a643e46
date added to LUP
2024-05-16 14:17:48
date last changed
2024-05-30 16:09:27
@article{8d883509-b233-4791-bb44-35d90a643e46,
  abstract     = {{<p>Background: Dexmedetomidine is a selective alpha-2 agonist with minimal impact on the haemodynamic profile. It is thought to be safer than morphine or stronger opioids, which are drugs currently used for analgesia and sedation in newborn infants. Dexmedetomidine is increasingly being used in children and infants despite not being licenced for analgesia in this group. Objectives: To determine the overall effectiveness and safety of dexmedetomidine for sedation and analgesia in newborn infants receiving mechanical ventilation compared with other non-opioids, opioids, or placebo. Search methods: We searched CENTRAL, MEDLINE, Embase, CINAHL, and two trial registries in September 2023. Selection criteria: We planned to include randomised controlled trials (RCTs) and quasi-RCTs evaluating the effectiveness of dexmedetomidine compared with other non-opioids, opioids, or placebo for sedation and analgesia in neonates (aged under four weeks) requiring mechanical ventilation. Data collection and analysis: We used standard Cochrane methods. Our primary outcomes were level of sedation and level of analgesia. Our secondary outcomes included days on mechanical ventilation, number of infants requiring additional medication for sedation or analgesia (or both), hypotension, neonatal mortality, and neurodevelopmental outcomes. We planned to use GRADE to assess the certainty of evidence for each outcome. Main results: We identified no eligible studies for inclusion. We identified four ongoing studies, two of which appear to be eligible for inclusion; they will compare dexmedetomidine with fentanyl in newborn infants requiring surgery. We listed the other two studies as awaiting classification pending assessment of full reports. One study will compare dexmedetomidine with morphine in asphyxiated newborns undergoing hypothermia, and the other (mixed population, age up to three years) will evaluate dexmedetomidine versus ketamine plus dexmedetomidine for echocardiography. The planned sample size of the four studies ranges from 40 to 200 neonates. Data from these studies may provide some evidence for dexmedetomidine efficacy and safety. Authors' conclusions: Despite the increasing use of dexmedetomidine, there is insufficient evidence supporting its routine use for analgesia and sedation in newborn infants on mechanical ventilation. Furthermore, data on dexmedetomidine safety are scarce, and there are no data available on its long-term effects. Future studies should address the efficacy, safety, and long-term effects of dexmedetomidine as a single drug therapy for sedation and analgesia in newborn infants.</p>}},
  author       = {{Lim, Jia Yi and Ker, Chin Jin and Lai, Nai Ming and Romantsik, Olga and Fiander, Michelle and Tan, Kenneth}},
  issn         = {{1465-1858}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  number       = {{5}},
  publisher    = {{Wiley-Blackwell}},
  series       = {{Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews}},
  title        = {{Dexmedetomidine for analgesia and sedation in newborn infants receiving mechanical ventilation}},
  url          = {{http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/14651858.CD012361.pub2}},
  doi          = {{10.1002/14651858.CD012361.pub2}},
  volume       = {{2024}},
  year         = {{2024}},
}