RT Journal
A1 DePriest J, Gonzalez L
T1 COmparing dexmedetomidine with midazolam for sedation of patients in the icu
JF JAMA
JO JAMA
YR 2009
FD June 17
VO 301
IS 23
SP 2439
OP 2442
DO 10.1001/jama.2009.836
UL http://dx.doi.org/10.1001/jama.2009.836
AB 
To the Editor: The Safety and Efficacy of Dexmedetomidine Compared With Midazolam (SEDCOM) trial by Dr Riker and colleagues1 compared dexmedetomidine with midazolam as primary sedative medications for mechanically ventilated patients in the intensive care unit (ICU). Patients receiving dexmedetomidine had a lower prevalence of delirium and were extubated almost 2 days earlier than the midazolam group. We believe the safety data from the trial suggest that clinicians should be concerned about using dexmedetomidine in the study's primary patient population, those with severe sepsis.