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Adult DiseasePhase 4NCT03172897

Low-dose Dexmedetomidine in Mechanically Ventilated ICU Patients

A Phase 4 study testing Dexmedetomidine in people with Adult Disease and Intensive Care Unit Syndrome, run by Peking University First Hospital at 1 site in China.

Suspended

Paused. Enrolment is on hold for now and may resume.

Official record
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Trial summary

For patients undergoing mechanical ventilation, light sedation is better than deep sedation for the outcomes, which is manifested as shortened length of ICU stay, shortened duration of mechanical ventilation, and decreased mortality. Read more about this study

Who is it for?
Ages 18 years and older
What is being tested?
Dexmedetomidine
Type of treatment
Injection or infusion
Could I receive a placebo?
Yes, some participants may receive a placebo
How many people
260 participants
Where
1 siteChina
Study dates
20 Aug 2017to Dec 2025
Phase
Phase 4
Are there results?
None posted in the registry

Key requirements

Who can take part, as listed by the sponsor. Only the study team can confirm whether you are eligible, so take this list to your doctor.

  • Ages 18 years and older
  • All sexes
  • No healthy volunteers
  • Adult, Older adult

Who may be able to join

  • aged 18 years or older;
  • admitted to the ICU;
  • with expected duration of mechanical ventilation of more than 24 hours.

Who cannot join

  • refused to participate;
  • aged less than 18 years;
  • pregnant;
  • preoperative history of schizophrenia, epilepsy, Parkinsonism, or myasthenia gravis;
  • inability to communicate in the preoperative period (coma, profound dementia, or language barrier);
  • brain injury or neurosurgery;
Show all 10Show fewer
  • known preoperative left ventricular ejection fraction less than 30%, sick sinus syndrome, severe sinus bradycardia (<50 beats per min [bpm]), or second degree or greater atrioventricular block without pacemaker;
  • severe hepatic dysfunction (Child-Pugh class C);
  • severe renal dysfunction (undergoing dialysis before surgery);
  • less likely to survive for more than 24 hours.

Trial locations and contacts

1 site in 1 country.

China1 site
  • Peking University First Hospital

    Beijing, Beijing Municipality, 100034

Other trials in China

About this study

Official title: Low-dose Dexmedetomidine for Delirium Prevention in Mechanically Ventilated Patients in Intensive Care Unit: a Multicenter, Randomised, Double-blinded, Placebo-controlled Trial

For patients undergoing mechanical ventilation, light sedation is better than deep sedation for the outcomes, which is manifested as shortened length of ICU stay, shortened duration of mechanical ventilation, and decreased mortality. In a recent study of the investigators, low-dose dexmedetomidine without sedative effects (0.1 ug/kg/h) improved sleep quality and reduced the incidence of delirium in elderly patients admitted to the ICU after surgery. The investigators hypothesize that, for ICU patients with prolonged mechanical ventilation, low-dose dexmedetomidine infusion (0.1 ug/kg/h) may also be effective in decreasing delirium. The purpose of this study is to investigate whether low-dose dexmedetomidine infusion can reduce the incidence of delirium in ICU patients with prolonged duration of mechanical ventilation (>= 24 hours).

Read the detailed description

Delirium is an acutely occurred and transient brain dysfunction characterized with cognitive dysfunction, lowered consciousness, disturbed attention, abnormal psychoactivity, and disordered sleep-wake rhythm. Delirium is frequent in mechanically ventilated patients in the intensive care unit (ICU), with reported incidences up to 70% or 87%. Possible reasons leading to delirium include the intervention-heavy environment of the ICU, mechanical ventilation and sleep disturbances. The occurrence of delirium is associated with worse outcomes including prolonged mechanical ventilation and ICU stay, increased complications, prolonged hospital stay, higher mortality, and elevated medical expenses. It is also associated with worse long-term outcomes including declined cognitive function, lowered life quality, and elevated long-term mortality.

Dexmedetomidine is a high selective alpha-2 adrenoceptor agonist with anxiolytic, sedative and analgesic effects. When used for sedation in mechanically ventilated patients (dose range 0.2-1.4 ug/kg/h), it reduces the consumption of other sedatives and analgesics, ameliorates the rhythm and structure of sleep, and decreases the occurrence of delirium. In recent studies of the investigators, low-dose dexmedetomidine infusion (0.1 ug/kg/h) ameliorated sleep quality; for elderly patients admitted to the ICU after surgery, prophylactic low-dose dexmedetomidine infusion reduced the incidence of delirium (for patients with mechanical ventilation: 28.8% with placebo vs. 11.5% with dexmedetomidine, P<0.0001; for patients without mechanical ventilation: 15.1% with placebo vs. 6.3% with dexmedetomidine, P=0.014).

For patients undergoing mechanical ventilation, light sedation is better than deep sedation for the outcomes, which is manifested as shortened length of ICU stay, shortened duration of mechanical ventilation, and decreased mortality. Some authors even reported that no sedation (analgesia only) provides better outcome than light sedation, because it further shortens the durations of mechanical ventilation and ICU stay. In the above studies of the investigators, the recruited patients were less severe because the Acute Physiology and Chronic Health Evaluation II (APACHE II) score was low (mean score from 10.2 to 10.6) and the duration of mechanical ventilation was short (median 6.9 hours in the control group). The investigators hypothesize that, for ICU patients with prolonged mechanical ventilation, low-dose dexmedetomidine infusion (0.1 ug/kg/h) may also be effective in improving sleep and decreasing delirium. The purpose of this study is to investigate whether low-dose dexmedetomidine infusion can reduce the incidence of delirium in ICU patients with prolonged duration of mechanical ventilation (>= 24 hours).

Being tested
Dexmedetomidine, Placebo (normal saline)
Keywords
Adult, Intensive care unit, Mechanical ventilation, Delirium, Dexmedetomidine
Medical subject headings
Disease, Delirium

What participants receive

What participants receive. In a randomised study each person is assigned to one group by chance.

  • DexmedetomidineDrug

    Also called Dexmedetomidine hydrochloride

    Dexmedetomidine is administered as a continuous intravenous infusion at a rate of 0.025 mL/kg per h (0.1 μg/kg per h) from study recruitment in the ICU for no more than 72 hours.

  • Placebo (normal saline)Drug

    Also called Normal saline

    Placebo (normal saline) is administered as a continuous intravenous infusion at a rate of 0.025 mL/kg per h from study recruitment in the ICU for no more than 72 hours.

Study groups in NCT03172897
Study groupRoleWhat they receive
Dexmedetomidine groupExperimentalDexmedetomidine is infused at a rate of 0.1 ug/kg/h for a maximum of 3 days.
Receives: Drug: Dexmedetomidine
Placebo groupPlacebo comparatorPlacebo (normal saline) is infused at a same rate as in the dexmedetomidine group for a maximum of 3 days.
Receives: Drug: Placebo (normal saline)

What is being measured

The primary outcome is the main question the study is designed to answer.

  1. Incidence of delirium within the first 7 days after enrollment

    Assessment twice daily (in the morning from 0600 h to 1000 h and in the evening from 1800 h to 2000 h) with the Confusion Assessment Method for the ICU (CAM-ICU).

    Measured: From enrollment until 7 days.

Secondary outcomes (7)
  1. Duration of mechanical ventilation

    Duration of mechanical ventilation after study enrollment.

    Measured: From enrollment until extubation or 30 days.

  2. Length of stay in the ICU

    Length of stay in the ICU after study enrollment.

    Measured: From enrollment until ICU discharge or 30 days.

  3. Length of stay in the hospital

    Length of stay in the hospital after study enrollment.

    Measured: From enrollment until hospital discharge or 30 days.

  4. Occurrence of non-delirium complications

    Occurrence of complications other than delirium after study enrollment.

    Measured: From enrollment until 30 days.

  5. All-cause 30-day mortality

    All-cause 30-day mortality after study enrollment.

    Measured: On the 30th day after enrollment.

  6. 30-day cognitive function

    Assessed with the Telephone Interview of Cognitive Status-Modified (TICS-m).

    Measured: On the 30th day after enrollment.

  7. 30-day life quality

    Assessed with the WHOQOL-Bref.

    Measured: On the 30th day after enrollment.

Timeline

From the start of the study to its completion; the mark is today. Estimated dates are the sponsor’s plan.

  1. First posted1 Jun 2017
  2. Study start20 Aug 2017
  3. Primary completion21 Aug 2017
  4. Study completionDec 2025 (estimated)

Why it stopped: The trial was stopped because of difficulty in recruiting patients (another trial had similar inclusion/exclusion criteria). No patients was recruited in this trial.

Resources

More details

For doctors and researchers: how the study is designed, who runs it, and its registry IDs.

Study design
Study type
Interventional
Phase
Phase 4
Primary purpose
Prevention
Allocation
Randomised
Intervention model
Parallel groups
Masking
Quadruple blind
Who is masked
Participant, Care provider, Investigator, Outcomes assessor
Enrolment
260 participants (estimated)
IDs, dates and publications
ClinicalTrials.gov ID
NCT03172897
Sponsor's protocol ID
2017[1319]
Status last verified
Jul 2025
First submitted
17 Apr 2017
Last updated
31 Jul 2025
Results posted
No
Data monitoring committee
Yes
FDA-regulated drug
No
FDA-regulated device
No
Individual data sharing
No

Publications

  • Nedergaard HK, Jensen HI, Stylsvig M, Lauridsen JT, Toft P. Non-sedation versus sedation with a daily wake-up trial in critically ill patients recieving mechanical ventilation - effects on long-term cognitive function: Study protocol for a randomized controlled trial, a substudy of the NONSEDA trial. Trials. 2016 Jun 1;17(1):269. doi: 10.1186/s13063-016-1390-5.

    PubMed 27250658
  • Nedergaard HK, Jensen HI, Lauridsen JT, Sjogaard G, Toft P. Non-sedation versus sedation with a daily wake-up trial in critically ill patients receiving mechanical ventilation--effects on physical function: study protocol for a randomized controlled trial: a substudy of the NONSEDA trial. Trials. 2015 Jul 23;16:310. doi: 10.1186/s13063-015-0856-1.

    PubMed 26201718
  • Toft P, Olsen HT, Jorgensen HK, Strom T, Nibro HL, Oxlund J, Wian KA, Ytrebo LM, Kroken BA, Chew M. Non-sedation versus sedation with a daily wake-up trial in critically ill patients receiving mechanical ventilation (NONSEDA Trial): study protocol for a randomised controlled trial. Trials. 2014 Dec 20;15:499. doi: 10.1186/1745-6215-15-499.

    PubMed 25528350
  • Strom T, Martinussen T, Toft P. A protocol of no sedation for critically ill patients receiving mechanical ventilation: a randomised trial. Lancet. 2010 Feb 6;375(9713):475-80. doi: 10.1016/S0140-6736(09)62072-9. Epub 2010 Jan 29.

    PubMed 20116842
  • Porhomayon J, Joude P, Adlparvar G, El-Solh AA, Nader ND. The Impact of High Versus Low Sedation Dosing Strategy on Cognitive Dysfunction in Survivors of Intensive Care Units: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. J Cardiovasc Thorac Res. 2015;7(2):43-8. doi: 10.15171/jcvtr.2015.10.

    PubMed 26191390
  • Balzer F, Weiss B, Kumpf O, Treskatsch S, Spies C, Wernecke KD, Krannich A, Kastrup M. Early deep sedation is associated with decreased in-hospital and two-year follow-up survival. Crit Care. 2015 Apr 28;19(1):197. doi: 10.1186/s13054-015-0929-2.

    PubMed 25928417
  • Treggiari MM, Romand JA, Yanez ND, Deem SA, Goldberg J, Hudson L, Heidegger CP, Weiss NS. Randomized trial of light versus deep sedation on mental health after critical illness. Crit Care Med. 2009 Sep;37(9):2527-34. doi: 10.1097/CCM.0b013e3181a5689f.

    PubMed 19602975
  • Hughes CG, Girard TD, Pandharipande PP. Daily sedation interruption versus targeted light sedation strategies in ICU patients. Crit Care Med. 2013 Sep;41(9 Suppl 1):S39-45. doi: 10.1097/CCM.0b013e3182a168c5.

    PubMed 23989094
  • Su X, Meng ZT, Wu XH, Cui F, Li HL, Wang DX, Zhu X, Zhu SN, Maze M, Ma D. Dexmedetomidine for prevention of delirium in elderly patients after non-cardiac surgery: a randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial. Lancet. 2016 Oct 15;388(10054):1893-1902. doi: 10.1016/S0140-6736(16)30580-3. Epub 2016 Aug 16.

    PubMed 27542303
  • Wu XH, Cui F, Zhang C, Meng ZT, Wang DX, Ma J, Wang GF, Zhu SN, Ma D. Low-dose Dexmedetomidine Improves Sleep Quality Pattern in Elderly Patients after Noncardiac Surgery in the Intensive Care Unit: A Pilot Randomized Controlled Trial. Anesthesiology. 2016 Nov;125(5):979-991. doi: 10.1097/ALN.0000000000001325.

    PubMed 27571256
  • Xia ZQ, Chen SQ, Yao X, Xie CB, Wen SH, Liu KX. Clinical benefits of dexmedetomidine versus propofol in adult intensive care unit patients: a meta-analysis of randomized clinical trials. J Surg Res. 2013 Dec;185(2):833-43. doi: 10.1016/j.jss.2013.06.062. Epub 2013 Jul 24.

    PubMed 23910886
  • Pandharipande PP, Pun BT, Herr DL, Maze M, Girard TD, Miller RR, Shintani AK, Thompson JL, Jackson JC, Deppen SA, Stiles RA, Dittus RS, Bernard GR, Ely EW. Effect of sedation with dexmedetomidine vs lorazepam on acute brain dysfunction in mechanically ventilated patients: the MENDS randomized controlled trial. JAMA. 2007 Dec 12;298(22):2644-53. doi: 10.1001/jama.298.22.2644.

    PubMed 18073360
  • Wunsch H, Kahn JM, Kramer AA, Wagener G, Li G, Sladen RN, Rubenfeld GD. Dexmedetomidine in the care of critically ill patients from 2001 to 2007: an observational cohort study. Anesthesiology. 2010 Aug;113(2):386-94. doi: 10.1097/ALN.0b013e3181e74116.

    PubMed 20613466
  • Jakob SM, Ruokonen E, Grounds RM, Sarapohja T, Garratt C, Pocock SJ, Bratty JR, Takala J; Dexmedetomidine for Long-Term Sedation Investigators. Dexmedetomidine vs midazolam or propofol for sedation during prolonged mechanical ventilation: two randomized controlled trials. JAMA. 2012 Mar 21;307(11):1151-60. doi: 10.1001/jama.2012.304.

    PubMed 22436955
  • Djaiani G, Silverton N, Fedorko L, Carroll J, Styra R, Rao V, Katznelson R. Dexmedetomidine versus Propofol Sedation Reduces Delirium after Cardiac Surgery: A Randomized Controlled Trial. Anesthesiology. 2016 Feb;124(2):362-8. doi: 10.1097/ALN.0000000000000951.

    PubMed 26575144

Questions about this trial

What is this clinical trial studying?

A Phase 4 study testing Dexmedetomidine in people with Adult Disease and Intensive Care Unit Syndrome, run by Peking University First Hospital at 1 site in China.

The full registered description is in the About this study section and the official record.

Who may be eligible to take part?

The sponsor lists 3 inclusion and 10 exclusion criteria. Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening, so read the full criteria and contact a listed site.

Is this clinical trial currently recruiting?

The record says: paused, as of the sponsor's last update on 31 Jul 2025. Status can change between updates, so confirm with the study contact before making plans.

Where is the study taking place?

The record lists 1 site in China. Whether a site is taking part right now should be confirmed with that site. See every site.

What are the possible benefits and risks?

They depend on the study and the treatment, and no study can promise a benefit. Some participants in this study may receive a placebo. The study team explains the known risks during informed consent, before anyone joins; the record itself does not list them.

What does this phase mean?

Phase 4 studies take place after a treatment is approved, to learn more about its long-term benefits and risks in everyday use.

Not every study follows the same path, and some studies (observational studies, device studies) have no phase.

Are results available for this study?

Results are not available in the source record.

How can a doctor refer a patient or contact the research team?

The record lists no contact. The official record names the sponsor, who can be asked directly. AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals.

What does the primary outcome measure?

Incidence of delirium within the first 7 days after enrollment (time frame: From enrollment until 7 days.). It is what the study was designed to measure, not a finding.

Where can I read the original study information?

On the ClinicalTrials.gov record for NCT03172897, which also lists 29 linked publications.

Does a listing mean the treatment is approved or proven to work?

No. A listing means the study is registered. It does not show that the treatment is safe, works, or is approved by a regulator.

How often is this information updated?

AzTrials copies changed records from ClinicalTrials.gov every night and reloads the whole registry every week. The sponsor last updated this record on 31 Jul 2025.

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