Effects of short-term preoperative intranasal dexmedetomidine plus conventional treatment on delirium following cardiac surgery in patients with sleep disorders

To assess whether preoperative dexmedetomidine (DEX) nasal drips combined with conventional treatment could mitigate the occurrence of postoperative delirium (POD). A prospective randomised controlled study. The cardiac surgery intensive care unit (CSICU) and patient hospitalisation ward at a university hospital. A total of 100 patients (aged ≥60 years) undergoing cardiac surgery at a university hospital between 7 January 2022, and 30 November 2022 met the eligibility criteria and were included in the study. Patients with sleep disorders (Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index ≥8) were divided into two groups: Group A (the placebo group, n=50), receiving a short-term preoperative placebo combined with conventional treatment and Group B (the DEX group, n=50), receiving short-term preoperative DEX combined with conventional treatment. The Confusion Assessment Method for the ICU (CAM-ICU) was used for POD assessment in the CSICU, while the CAM was employed to assess delirium in the patient ward. Group B demonstrated a reduced incidence of POD compared to Group A (12 www.chictr.org.cn with registration number ChiCTR 2100043968, registered on 06/03/2021.