Enteral Guanfacine to Treat Severe Anxiety and Agitation Complicating Critical Care After Cardiac Surgery

Habib Srour, Komal Pandya, Alex Flannery, Kevin Hatton

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

9 Scopus citations

Abstract

This article is the first reported case describing the off-label use of enteral immediate-release guanfacine, a long-acting α-2 adrenergic agonist most commonly used in the treatment of attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder, for sedation in a patient with severe anxiety and agitation limiting mechanical ventilation weaning several days after cardiac surgery. In this case, after several days of unsuccessful attempts to control his agitation and anxiety with conventional therapies, guanfacine therapy was initiated, and the patient was rapidly weaned from all other sedatives and mechanical ventilation shortly thereafter. The patient was weaned from guanfacine therapy without evidence of bradycardia, hypotension, or rebound syndrome. Enteral guanfacine therapy should be further studied as a potentially useful and cost-effective sedative therapy for patients with severe anxiety and/or agitation in the intensive care unit following cardiac and thoracic surgical procedures.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)403-406
Number of pages4
JournalSeminars in Cardiothoracic and Vascular Anesthesia
Volume22
Issue number4
DOIs
StatePublished - Dec 1 2018

Bibliographical note

Publisher Copyright:
© The Author(s) 2018.

Keywords

  • cognitive dysfunction
  • critical care
  • intensive care unit
  • postoperative care
  • withdrawal

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Cardiology and Cardiovascular Medicine
  • Anesthesiology and Pain Medicine

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