Cardiothoracic & vascular anesthesia
Periodic limb movements during sedation and general anesthesia in elderly patients: a prospective observational study
Authors' conclusion
PLMs are common during dexmedetomidine sedation for TAVI in elderly patients and may need conversion to general anesthesia.
Study context
- Population
- Elderly patients undergoing transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI) under dexmedetomidine-based multimodal sedation, October–November 2021mean age 81 ± 6 years
- Participants
- 35 patients
- Outcome
- Incidence of PLMs during dexmedetomidine-based multimodal sedation
Methodological detailsconsecutive patients
- Consecutive patients
Main finding
As reported in the abstract
PLMs (2-6 movements/min)
All patients
57%
20 events
Observational data: associations, not effects.
Further findings
| Outcome | Values | Cohen’s d |
|---|---|---|
| Conversion to GA | PLM-positive 100% | |
| Narcotrend index (n = 19 with complete EEG datasets)Following propofol administration vs Dexmedetomidine-only sedation · very large effect size | Dexmedetomidine-only sedation averaged 96.6 ± 2.6 · Following propofol administration 39.3 ± 20.0 | 2.85 |
- Narcotrend index (n = 19 with complete EEG datasets): awake-sedate EEG pattern during dexmedetomidine-only sedation
Conversion to GA
- All conversions due to restlessness in patients with periodic limb movements (PLMs); PLM severity did not predict conversion
Prior neurological disease
- No consistent association with PLM occurrence; no patient had known restless legs syndrome (RLS) history
Original publication
Periodic limb movements during sedation and general anesthesia in elderly patients: a prospective observational study. J Clin Monit Comput. Published 24 February 2026. doi:10.
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