Study on Nighttime Dexmedetomidine Use to Improve Sleep and Reduce Fatigue After Major Lung Surgery in Older Adults

What this Trial Is About

Researchers are studying elderly patients aged 60 years or older who undergo major thoracoscopic lung surgery to understand the effects of postoperative sleep disturbances and fatigue on recovery. This study evaluates whether giving the drug dexmedetomidine at night after surgery improves sleep quality, reduces fatigue and muscle weakness, and enhances recovery compared to a placebo. The trial focuses on how sleep impacts recovery and aims to address common issues like pain, fatigue, and reduced well-being after surgery in older adults. Participants will be randomly assigned to receive either a nocturnal infusion of dexmedetomidine or a placebo saline solution during the first night after surgery. The dexmedetomidine infusion starts at 8 p.m. on the day of surgery at 0.4 mcgkgh and is adjusted every 30 minutes to reach light to moderate sedation levels until the infusion stops at 6 a.m. the next morning. The placebo group will receive saline following the same schedule without the active drug. During the study, participants will be assessed before surgery and at multiple points up to 28 days after surgery. Evaluations include quality of recovery, sleep patterns and quality, fatigue levels using questionnaires and scales, muscle strength, cognitive function, and delirium occurrence. Sleep will be monitored through subjective reports and EEG during the first postoperative night. This comprehensive monitoring helps researchers understand the impact of dexmedetomidine on early recovery and sleep quality after major surgery in the elderly.

The Effect of Nocturnal Dexmedetomidine on Postoperative Sleep Quality and Fatigue After Major Surgery in Elderly Patients: DEXSLEEP Study