Use of clonidine following the weaning phase of the elderly patients underwent elective on-pump cardiac surgery: a prospective randomized study

Materials and methods Design: Analysis of a prospective and randomized collected database. Setting: Intensive Care Unit (ICU) in an University Hospital. Patients: A total of 45 patients aged >65 (26 M, 19 F; ASA II-III) submitted to elective on-pump cardiac surgery from November 2007 to June 2008. Randomization: On ICU admission the patient was assigned to group 1 (Clonidine, intervention group) or group 2 (Placebo, control group). Interventions: Group 1 received intravenous (IV) bolus of Clonidine 0.5 microg/kg followed by continuous infusion of 1 – 2 microg/kg/hr all over the weaning protocol phase. Group 2 received IV continuous infusion of Sodium Chloride 0.9% all over the weaning phase. Data collection: We evaluated hemodynamic parameters, Troponin I (TnI) blood levels, weaning parameters, Delirium Detection Score (DDS), weaning duration and ICU length of stay. The patients were evaluated preoperatively (T0), on ICU admission (T1), after 6 hours (T2) and 30 minutes after the start of weaning protocol (T3).