Table 2. Doses, sedation scales and target sedation levels.
| First author | Study endpoint | Dexmedetomidine dose | Start study drug | Stop study drug |
| Aziz NA [7] | Sedation quality | 0.03–0.25 µg/kg/h | ICU arrival | After 24 hours |
| Corbett SM [17] | Sedation quality | Loading dose of 1 µg/kg in 15 min, followed by a 0.4/µg/kg/h infusion | During surgery, after CPB | Propofol was discontinued before extubation while dexmedetomidine was continued for up to 1 hour after extubation |
| Elbaradie S [22] | Sedation quality | Loading dose of 2.5 µg/kgin10 min followed by a 0.2–0.5 µg/kg/h infusion | ICU arrival | Before extubation |
| Esmaoglu A [23] | Sedation quality | Loading dose of 1 µg/kg in 20 min followed by a0.7 µg/kg/h infusion | ICU arrival | NA |
| Herr DL [24] | Sedation quality | Loading dose of 1 µg/kg in20 min followed by a0.4 µg/kg/h infusion. After transfer to the ICU, the infusion rate was titrated in the range of 0.2 to 0.7 µg/kg/h | Sternal closure | 6–24 hours after extubation |
| Jakob SM MIDEX [8] | Sedation quality | 0.2–1.4 µg/kg/h | Within 72 hours after ICU admission | Extubation, 14 days maximum |
| Jakob SM PRODEX [8] | Sedation quality | 0.2–1.4 µg/kg/h | Within 72 hours after ICU admission | Extubation, 14 days maximum |
| Khalil MA [14] | Sedation quality | Loading dose of 1 µg/kg in 10 minutes followed by a 0.5 µg/kg/h infusion | After induction of general anaesthesia | After stabilization of haemodynamics in the ICU |
| Leino K [9] | Renal effects | Five-step infusion of 4 µg/ml with the following decreasing infusion rate: 39 ml/h for 20 min, 24.5 ml/h for 40 min, 14 ml/h for 60 min, 10.5 ml/h for 120 min and then 7 ml/h (rates needed to achieve a pseudo steady-state plasma concentration of 0.60 µg/ml) | Immediately after anaesthesia induction | 4 h after ICU arrival |
| Maldonado JR [25] | Sedation quality | Loading dose of 0,4 µg/kg followed by 0.2–0.7 µg/kg/h | After CPB weaning | Maximum 24 h |
| Martin E [26] | Sedation quality | Loading dose of 1 µg/kg in 10 min followed by 0.4 µg/kg/h. The latter rate could be adjusted within the range of 0.2 to 0.7 µg/kg/h | Within 1 hour after ICU admission | For a minimum of 6 hours post extubation; total time was <24 hours |
| Memis D [27] | Gastric emptying | Loading dose of 2.5 µg/kg in 10 min followed by 0.2 µg kg/h over 5 h infusion | Within 4 hours after ICU admission | 5 hours |
| Memis D [28] | Inflammatory responses and gastric intramucosal pH | Loading dose of 1 µg/kg in 10 min followed by 0.2–2.5 µg/kg over 24 h infusion | ICU | NA |
| Memis D [29] | Indocyanine green elimination | Loading dose of 1 µg/kg in 10 min followed by a maintenance of 0.2–2.5 µg/kg/h | NA | 24 hours |
| Menda F [10] | Haemodynamic response to endotracheal intubation | 1 µg/kg in 15 min | Anaesthesia induction | NA |
| Ozkan N [30] | Haemodynamics and mixed venous oxygen saturation | Loading dose of 1 µg/kg followed by 0.2–0.4 µg/kg/h | Anaesthesia induction | NA |
| Pandharipande PP [31] | Sedation quality | Maximum 1.5 µg/kg/hr | ICU | Until extubation, for maximum 120 hours |
| Reade MC [32] | Sedation quality | Loading dose of 1.0 µg/kg in 20 min (if desired) followed by 0.2–0.7 µg/kg/hour | ICU | As long as clinically indicated, including following extubation if required |
| Riker RR [33] | Sedation quality | Loading dose of 1 µg/kg followed by 0.2–1.4 µg/kg/h | Within 96 hours after intubation | Extubation, 30 days maximum |
| Ruokonen E [34] | Sedation quality | 0.8 µg/kg/h for 1 h and then adjusted stepwise at 0.25, 0.5, 0.8, 1.1, and 1.4 µg/kg/h | Within 72 hours after ICU admission | Maximum 14 days |
| Sahin N [15] | Sedation quality and haemodynamics | 0.4 µg/kg/h intraoperative; 0.2–0.4 µg/kg/h in ICU | Anesthesia induction | 45 hours after extubation |
| Shehabi Y [35] | Sedation quality | 0.1–0.7 µg/kg/ml | Within 1 hour after ICU admission | Removal of chest drains, maximum 48 hours |
| Tasdogan M [36] | Inflammatory responses and intra abdominal pressure | Loading dose of 1 µg/kg in 10 min followed by 0.2–2.5 µg/kg/h | ICU arrival | 24 hours |
| Terao Y [11] | Sedation quality | Loading dose of 0.1 µg/kg/min in 10 minutes followed by 0.4 µg/kg/h | ICU arrival | First postoperative morning |
| Triltsch AE [37] | Sedation quality | Loading dose of 6 µg/kg/h in 10 min followed by 0.1–0.7 µg/kg/h | Within 1 hour after ICU admission | 6–7 hours after extubation, maximum overall 72 h |
| Venn RM [38] | Sedation quality | Loading dose of 2,5 µg/kg/h followed by 0,2–2,5 µg/kg/h | ICU arrival | Extubation |
| Wan LJ [12] | Sedation quality | NA | NA | NA |
| Yao L [13] | Sedation quality | Loading dose of 1 µg/kg in 10 min followed by 0.2–0.7 µg/kg/h | NA | NA |
ICU: Intensive Care Unit; CPB: cardiopulmonary bypass; NA: not available.