Design: Open-label, single-center prospective study. Setting: Trauma/Surgical Intensive Care Unit (TSICU) at a Level I academic trauma center.~Patients: Patients 18 years of age or older requiring mechanical ventilation and admitted to the TSICU Interventions: Patients were randomly assigned based on unit bed location to receive dexmedetomidine or propofol for sedation.
The purpose of this study is to assess the efficacy of dexmedetomidine versus propofol for prolonged sedation in trauma and surgical patients.