Cardiothoracic & vascular anesthesia
Effects of Dexmedetomidine on Outcomes After Cardiac Surgery (DOCS): a randomised double-blind, placebo-controlled trial
Authors' conclusion
Perioperative use of dexmedetomidine did not reduce death, complications, or both in adults undergoing cardiopulmonary bypass-assisted cardiac surgery.
Study context
- Population
- Adults scheduled for cardiac surgery with CPBcompleted the study
- Participants
- 1,073 adults
- Comparison
- Perioperative i.v. dexmedetomidine vs saline
- Dexmedetomidinen = 536
- Salinen = 537reference
- Primary endpoint
- Co-primary: in-hospital mortality and major complications after surgery (incl. stroke, MI, heart block, cardiac arrest)
Methodological detailsdouble-blind, placebo-controlled, multicentre (nine Chinese hospitals)
- Double-blind
- Placebo-controlled
- Multicentre (nine Chinese hospitals)
Primary result
As reported in the abstract
Dexmedetomidine vs SalineEstimate (95% CI)P value
Major complications
RR 0.93(0.72–1.21)
P = 0.66In-hospital mortality: 10/536 (1.9%) vs 15/537 (2.8%)
OR 0.66(0.29–1.49)
P = 0.32Secondary outcomes
Individual major complications
- Major complications, other than heart block, did not differ between dexmedetomidine and saline
Safety
Safety outcomes and process measures
- Did not differ between dexmedetomidine and saline
Original publication
Effects of Dexmedetomidine on Outcomes After Cardiac Surgery (DOCS): a randomised double-blind, placebo-controlled trial. Br J Anaesth. Published 14 November 2025. doi:10.
Composed by AI from the published abstract and checked against it. How Briefs are made →