Talke 1995.

Methods	Randomized controlled trial comparing 3 dexmedetomidine arms (low, medium and high doses), and 1 placebo arm.
Participants	25 participants, with a diagnosis or risk factors of coronary artery disease, undergoing vascular surgery. Age (yr): mean (SD): dexmedetomidine group (combined): 65 (9); placebo group: 66 (6). Sex: not reported. Exclusion criteria: unstable angina, uninterpretable ECG, taking clonidine or tricyclic antidepressant preoperatively or did not received study drug for first 24 hr postoperatively.
Interventions	Low‐dose dexmedetomidine IV infusion intraoperatively until 48 hr after surgery with total dose 2.64 μg/kg. Medium‐dose dexmedetomidine IV infusion intraoperatively until 48 hr after surgery with total dose 5.31 μg/kg. High‐dose dexmedetomidine IV infusion intraoperatively until 48 hr after surgery with total dose 8.03 μg/kg. Placebo.
Outcomes	All‐cause mortality (period unspecified). MI (elevated CK‐MB levels or new Q‐waves). Myocardial ischaemia (S‐T or T‐wave changes on ECG). Supraventricular tachyarrhythmia. Bradycardia (requiring drug treatment). Hypotension (requiring drug treatment). Heart failure.
Notes	Dexmedetomidine arms were combined for purpose of analyses. Funding: support grant from Orion Corporation, a pharmaceutical company. Declaration of interest: not stated.
Risk of bias
Bias	Authors' judgement	Support for judgement
Random sequence generation (selection bias)	Unclear risk	Described as randomized but details not provided.
Allocation concealment (selection bias)	Unclear risk	Not discussed.
Blinding of participants and personnel (performance bias) All outcomes	Unclear risk	Authors described study as 'double‐blind.' Reported use of a placebo in control arm. No other details reported.
Blinding of outcome assessment (detection bias) All outcomes	Low risk	All staff who analysed ECG recordings were blinded to treatment assignment. No other details of blinding reported.
Incomplete outcome data (attrition bias) All outcomes	Unclear risk	1 participant in dexmedetomidine arm excluded because of emergent reoperation.
Selective reporting (reporting bias)	Low risk	Outcomes reported were concordant with methods.
Other bias	Low risk	None.