EEG Characteristics Before and After Dexmedetomidine Treatment in Severe Patients: A Prospective Study

Background. Bedside electroencephalography (EEG) can monitor the changes in brain function in critical patients. Light sedation is recommended in intensive care unit (ICU) patients, but sedation might confuse the EEG readings. There are few studies on the changes of EEG in severe patients with dexmedetomidine. This study aimed to explore the EEG characteristics before and after dexmedetomidine in severe patients in the ICU. Methods. This prospective study enrolled severe patients with sepsis who needed light sedation, we sedated the patients with dexmedetomidine. EEG was recorded for at least 60 min using a quantitative EEG (qEEG) bedside monitor. Amplitude-EEG (aEEG), relative spectral energy, alpha variation, and spectral entropy were recorded and compared before/after dexmedetomidine. Results. Sixty-three participants were enrolled. The relative spectral energy and alpha variation were not different before and after the use of dexmedetomidine ( P  > .05). The amplitude of the upper and lower boundaries in aEEG and spectral entropy were significantly lower after light sedation with dexmedetomidine compared with before ( P  < .05). When grouped according to the Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS), the amplitude of qEEG in participants with moderate GCS decreased significantly( P  < .05), but not in mild or severe GCS. Conclusion. Relative spectral energy and alpha variation derived from qEEG could be used to evaluate the state of brain function even under light sedation with dexmedetomidine in severe patients during their ICU stay.