Table 2 Characteristics of included studies

1

Herr (2003)

Randomized, open label study

295

CABG^§

RSS^§ ≥ 3 during assisted ventilation and ≥ 2 after extubation

1.0 ug/kg over 20 minutes then 0.2 to 0.7ug/kg/h to maintain

Propofol: not given

2

Anger (2010)

Prospective, descriptive study

56

Cardiac surgery

Similar RASS^§ between groups

0.6 ± 0.1 ug/kg/h

Propofol: 1.5 ± 0.6 ug/kg/h

3

Yapici (2010)

Prospective observational study

72

Cardiac surgery

Performing RASS scores at 48 and 60 h postoperative

0.3 to 0.7 ug/kg/h

Midazolam: 0.05 to 0.2 mg/kg/h

4

Barletta (2009)

Retrospective study

100

Cardiac surgery

Not given

0.3 ± 0.12 ug/kg/h

Propofol: 29 ± 11 ug/kg/min

5

Maldonado (2009)

RCT^§

118

Cardiac surgery

RSS of 3 before extubation and 2 after extubation

loading dose: 0.4 ug/kg and then 0.2 to 0.7 ug/kg/h to maintain

Propofol: 25 to 50 ug/kg/min; midazolam: 0.5 to 2.0 mg/h

6

Dasta (2006)

Retrospective study

10352

Cardiac valve and vessel surgery

Not given

Three drugs (dexmedetomidine, propofol plus midazolam): not given

Two drugs (propofol plus midazolam): not given

7

Aziz (2011)

RCT

28

Cardiac surgery

Modified Ramsay Score and Numeric Pain Intensity Scale (compared within groups)

0.12 ± 0.03 ug/kg/h

Morphine: 13.2 ± 5.84 ug/kg/h

8

Shehabi (2009)

RCT

306

Pump cardiac surgery

Motor Activity Assessment Scale of 2 to 4

0.1 to 0.7 ug/kg/h

Morphine: 10 to 70 ug/kg/h

9

Wunsch (2010)

Retrospective cohort study

5332

CABG and valve surgery

Not given

Not given

Midazolam, lorazepam, propofol: not given

10

Corbett (2005)

Prospective randomized study

89

CABG

RSS of 5 for the first 2 h postoperative, followed by a score of 3 to 4 during intubation

Loading dose:1 ug/kg over 15 minutes, followed by 0.4 ug/kg/h

Propofol: 5 to 75 ug/kg/min

11

Reichert (2011)

Retrospective case-control study

70

CABG

SAS^§ targeted to scores of 3 or 4

0.3 to 0.7 ug/kg/h

Propofol: 15 to 30 ug/kg/min