What do systematic reviews say?

Dexmedetomidine vs control or placebo medications

• Pharmacological interventions for the prevention of acute postoperative pain in adults following brain surgery 2019 · Cochrane Headline outcomes only
  no estimate extracted
  1 study · 52 participants
  Very low

Dexmedetomidine vs traditional sedative agents

• Alpha‐2 agonists for long‐term sedation during mechanical ventilation in critically ill patients 2015 · Cochrane Headline outcomes only
  no estimate extracted
  4 studies · 1120 participants
  Low

Dexmedetomidine vs traditional sedative agents

It is very uncertain whether dexmedetomidine changes risk of delirium compared with traditional sedative agents (very low certainty).

• Alpha‐2 agonists for long‐term sedation during mechanical ventilation in critically ill patients 2015 · Cochrane Headline outcomes only
  RR 0.85 [0.63, 1.14]
  7 studies · 1624 participants
  Very low

Dexmedetomidine vs traditional sedative agents

It is very uncertain whether dexmedetomidine changes risk of coma compared with traditional sedative agents (very low certainty).

• Alpha‐2 agonists for long‐term sedation during mechanical ventilation in critically ill patients 2015 · Cochrane Headline outcomes only
  RR 0.69 [0.55, 0.86]
  1 study · 103 participants
  Very low

Dexmedetomidine vs traditional sedative agents

It is very uncertain whether dexmedetomidine changes incidence of bradycardia compared with traditional sedative agents (very low certainty).

• Alpha‐2 agonists for long‐term sedation during mechanical ventilation in critically ill patients 2015 · Cochrane Headline outcomes only
  RR 2.11 [1.39, 3.2]
  6 studies · 1587 participants
  Very low

Dexmedetomidine vs traditional sedative agents

• Alpha‐2 agonists for long‐term sedation during mechanical ventilation in critically ill patients 2015 · Cochrane Headline outcomes only
  no estimate extracted
  1 study · 85 participants
  GRADE not reported

Dexmedetomidine vs traditional sedative agents

• Alpha‐2 agonists for long‐term sedation during mechanical ventilation in critically ill patients 2015 · Cochrane Headline outcomes only
  no estimate extracted
  5 studies · 1223 participants
  Very low

Dexmedetomidine vs traditional sedative agents

It is very uncertain whether dexmedetomidine changes mortality compared with traditional sedative agents (very low certainty).

• Alpha‐2 agonists for long‐term sedation during mechanical ventilation in critically ill patients 2015 · Cochrane Headline outcomes only
  RR 0.99 [0.79, 1.24]
  6 studies · 1584 participants
  Very low

Dexmedetomidine vs A different sedative agent

• Sedation of children undergoing dental treatment 2018 · Cochrane All outcomes
  Any behavioural score - Dexmedetomidine versus (other sedatives): 120 (2); VERY LOW
  2 studies · 120 participants
  Very low