Table 1.

Patient characteristics and operative details for the dexmedetomidine and placebo groups

	Dexmedetomidine	Placebo
Type of surgery (cardiac/general)	9/7	10/7
APACHE II score for general surgical patients (median [interquartile range])	10 (5)	10 (2)
Parsonnett score for cardiac surgery patients (median [interquartile range])	10 (6)	13 (7)
Age (years)	63 ± 15	63 ± 15
Sex (male/female)	12/4	11/6
Wean-extubation time (h)	2.6 ± 2.7	2.4 ± 2.5
Intubation time (h)	10.5 ± 4.5	9.0 ± 4.4
Total infusion (intubation + extubation; h)	17.5 ± 3.7	15.1 ± 4

Values are expressed as mean ± standard deviation or as numbers, unless otherwise stated. APACHE, Acute Physiology and Chronic Health Evaluation.