ICU delirium is an important complication of critical illness and is potentially preventable. Benzodiazepines are associated with an increased risk of delirium, while there has been increasing interest in dexmedetomidine, a selective alpha-2 adrenergic receptor agonist, because of its potential for delirium prevention. Evidence to date does not strongly support routine use of pharmacologic prevention of delirium; however, dexmedetomidine may be an option for sedation, as opposed to benzodiazepines or propofol, in selected patients and may potentially prevent delirium.
—Minkyung Kwon, MD, Neal Patel, MD, and Vichaya Arunthari, MD, Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, Mayo Clinic Florida, Jacksonville, FL
