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.
This is an AI summary of the original study and may miss details. Read our disclaimer.
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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
Locations
-
Beijing University First Hospital
Beijing, Beijing Municipality, 100034, China
-
Fuwai Hospital of Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences
Beijing, Beijing Municipality, 100037, China
More trials for these conditions
Other studies related to the condition(s) this trial covers.
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- Can a dissolvable film quiet ICU delirium?
- Can a simple frailty check predict how well seniors recover from heart surgery?
- Could a Two-Drug anesthesia combo lift Post-Surgery mood?
- Could a simple scheduling change ease heart surgery nerves?