Dexmedetomidine and Outcomes of Cardiac Surgery (DOCS)

Summary

Cardiac surgery is associated with a high risk of cardiovascular and other complications. The investigators hypothesized that perioperative infusion of dexmedetomidine may reduce the incidence of complications and mortality following cardiovascular surgery.

Timeline

Start

2014-04-09

Primary completion

2017-03-01

Completion

2018-03

Outcome

Missed primary endpoint

paper Perioperative use of dexmedetomidine did not reduce death, complications, or both in adults undergoing cardiopulmonary bypass-assisted cardiac surgery. PMID 41238464 ↗

Publications

• Lei C, Zheng Z, Han J, Wang L, Zhai W, Li C, Hou L, Yu S, Liu J, Xu X, Wang S, Guo X, Zhang T, Zhou J, Zou J, Tian Y, Chi X, Qiu L, Xu M, Zhang X, Huang W, Chen Y, Yan M, Wang H, Xia J, Wang L, Liu H, Dong H. Effects of Dexmedetomidine on Outcomes After Cardiac Surgery (DOCS): a randomised double-blind, placebo-controlled trial. Br J Anaesth. 2026 Jan;136(1):55-64. doi: 10.1016/j.bja.2025.09.026. Epub 2025 Nov 14.

Drugs

Indications