Nighttime sedative may cut delirium in elderly heart surgery patients
NCT ID NCT03624595
First seen Jun 25, 2026 · Last updated Jun 27, 2026 · Updated 1 time
Summary
This study tested whether giving a low-dose sedative called dexmedetomidine at night can prevent delirium (sudden confusion) in older adults after heart surgery. The trial involved 504 patients aged 60-89 who had heart surgery with a heart-lung machine. The drug was infused overnight for up to 5 nights, and patients were checked for delirium twice daily. The goal was to see if this simple nighttime treatment could improve sleep, reduce confusion, and possibly boost long-term survival.
What this could mean
Our plain-language read of the trial. This is informational only — not medical advice or a prediction.
Active substance
Dexmedetomidine (a sedative drug)
What this could lead to
If it works, this could provide a simple way to reduce confusion and improve recovery in older adults after heart surgery.
What could go wrong
This is a completed trial, but results may not apply to all patients. The drug can cause low blood pressure or slow heart rate, and benefits may be modest.
Disclaimer
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Summaries may miss details or leave out important information. Before applying or accepting participation, make sure you have read and understood the full study. Curemydisease.com takes no responsibility whatsoever for anything missed, misunderstood, or acted upon as a result of our summary — we know it does not capture everything.
This is a summary of the original study . Summaries may miss details or leave out important information. Before applying or accepting participation, make sure you have read and understood the full study. Curemydisease.com takes no responsibility whatsoever for anything missed, misunderstood, or acted upon as a result of our summary — we know it does not capture everything.
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Conditions
The condition(s) this trial relates to.
As listed by the trial registrant
The condition terms exactly as the trial's registrant entered them.
Contacts and locations
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Locations
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Beijing University First Hospital
Beijing, Beijing Municipality, 100034, China
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Fuwai Hospital of Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences
Beijing, Beijing Municipality, 100037, China