Conditions: Delirium Agitation
Keywords: Delirium Agitation Sedation Dexmedetomidine Surgical
Allocation: RANDOMIZED | Intervention model: PARALLEL
Enrollment: 53
Healthy volunteers: no

Brief summary:
The purpose of the research is to see if dexmedetomidine (a drug that has a calming effect - a sedative) is effective for the treatment of acute delirium

Detailed description:
Delirium is a mental disturbance that causes people to be confused and restless for a period of time. We will compare dexmedetomidine to the traditional therapy for treatment of acute delirium. Dexmedetomidine does not affect breathing. The traditional drugs might make one sleepy and may slow down breathing. The traditional therapy in this institution for acute delirium is \_the use of Haloperidol, and/or benzodiazepines. Haloperidol is an antipsychotic drug that has calming effect. Benzodiazepines are sedatives with calming effect.Dexmedetomidine is approved by the Food and drug Administration (FDA) to sedate patients on a breathing machine for 24 hours.

Arms:
arm 1: infusion 0.3-0.7 dexmedetomidine arm 2: Standard of care per treating physician preference

Interventions: intervention 1: Dexmedetomidine intervention 2: Standard of Care
Intervention descriptions: intervention 1: dexmedetomidine infusion titrated to effect intervention 2: Standard of care per treating physician preference

Protocol document: