Effects of Dexmedetomidine Versus Ketamine on Inflammatory Response and Hemodynamic in Patients

Effects of Dexmedetomidine Versus Ketamine on Inflammatory Response and Hemodynamic in Patients With Intraabdominal Sepsis: A Randomized Controlled Study

Inflammatory response and hemodynamic response in patients with intraabdominal sepsis and Effects of Dexmedetomidine versus ketamine on it .

Study Overview

• Status: Recruiting
• Conditions: Haemodynamic Rebound
• Intervention / Treatment: Drug: Dexmedetomidine; Drug: Ketamine

Detailed Description

Severe sepsis is a major healthcare problem with a reported incidence of 1-2% in all hospitalizations. It is a major cause of death in intensive care units worldwide and is the second leading cause of death in noncoronary intensive care unit patients. Mortality remains high at 30-50% despite a better understanding of sepsis pathophysiology and improved advanced care in the past decade . It is defined as a life-threatening organ dysfunction with a Sequential Organ Failure Assessment (SOFA) score > 2 and a mortality of over 10% in hospitals . These patients suffer from circulatory disorders including decreased intravascular volume, peripheral vasodilatation, and myocardial dysfunction, increased metabolism, which may result in hypoxia due to the imbalance between systemic oxygen delivery and oxygen demand .

The pathophysiology of septic shock is well known. However, septic shock therapy is still limited, and the mortality of patients with septic shock remains high. The innate immune system is the first line of defense mechanism against pathogens . The activation of the immunocompetent cells, including macrophages, monocytes, natural killer cells, dendritic cells, and endothelial cells mediate the innate immune response to respond to pathogens or their components . Activated immune cells also secrete pro-inflammatory mediators such as cytokines interleukin (IL-1, IL-6, IL-8), tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), prostaglandins, and histamine . These mediators act on vascular endothelial cells and cause vasodilation, increased vascular permeability, and recruitment of neutrophils to the tissue .

The coagulation cascade is activated locally by upregulating endothelial tissue factors and decreased thrombomodulin and its antithrombotic products .

Ketamine is one of the most rational anaesthetic and sedative agents for patients with sepsis because of its ability to maintain hemodynamics Ketamine also suppresses pro-inflammatory cytokines, apoptosis, and increases intracellular calcium . In the hyperinflammatory phase, ketamine can also reduce anti-inflammatory cytokines such as IL-10 in the hypoinflammatory phase. Ketamine was thought to reduce the risk of secondary infection in the hypoinflammatory phase. However, there has yet to be further research on this hypothesis . Therefore, ketamine is expected to be developed as a candidate for immunotherapy in sepsis.

Dexmedetomidine (alpha2 receptor agonist) has anti-inflammatory and anti-bacterial effects, which are superior to those of gamma-aminobutyric acid agonists, such as benzodiazepines and propofol . Furthermore, it also reduces neuronal apoptosis high doses of central alpha-2-agonists like dexmedetomidine increase vasopressor responsiveness Moreover, even in non-septic patients, alpha-2-agonists are associated with lower vasopressor requirements, increased arterial blood pressure, and enhanced baroreceptor response .

• Study Type: Interventional
• Enrollment (Estimated): 2
• Phase: Phase 2; Phase 1

Contacts and Locations

• Study Contact: Name: Ahmed Ismail ABDEL sabour, MD; Phone Number: 2 01097845491; Email: ahmed_ismail87@med.nvu.edu.eg
• Study Contact Backup: Name: ayman Mohamed Fawzy, Msc; Phone Number: 2 01028697487; Email: fawzyayman629@med.nvu.edu.eg

Study Locations

• Egypt
  • Asyut, Egypt
    • Recruiting
    • Asyut University
    • Contact: Alaa attia, professur; Phone Number: 01099923117

Participation Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

• Ages Eligible for Study: Adult; Older Adult
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: No

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

• • Adult patients admitted to ICU after ileus surgery (perforated viscus, infarcted bowel, strangulated hernia, anastomotic leakage, diverticulitis, and intestinal obstruction), and who will be expected to require postoperative sedation and ventilation.

  • Abdominal sepsis was determined as organ dysfunction with a substantial change in overall SOFA score (2) ≥ 2 points because of intra-abdominal sepsis.

Exclusion Criteria:

• • Known allergy to ketamine, dexmedetomidine,

  • Confirmed pregnancy,
  • Heart failure (class 3 or 4 of the New York Heart Association),
  • Renal failure (RIFLE classification),
  • Liver failure (manifested by serum total protein concentration <3 g/dl and total bilirubin >5 mg/dl)
  • Known or suspected brain death.
  • Patients who receive neuromuscular blockers during the first 48 hours of ICU admission will also be excluded.

Study Plan

How is the study designed?

Design Details

• Primary Purpose: Screening
• Allocation: Randomized
• Interventional Model: Parallel Assignment
• Masking: Triple

Number of Arms

2

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm	Intervention / Treatment
Active Comparator: Patients will receive dexmedetomidine; Patients will receive dexmedetomidine (Precedex®; 200 µg/2 ml; at one µg/kg loading dose over 10 minutes followed by a 0.5 µg/kg/hr. maintenance dose for 48 hours Dexmedetomidine will be diluted in normal saline at a 4 µg/ ml concentration	Drug: Dexmedetomidine; Patients will receive dexmedetomidine
Active Comparator: Patients will receive ketamine; Patients will receive ketamine at one mg/kg IV loading dose over 10 minutes, then a continuous infusion starting at 300 µg /kg/hr over 48 hours	Drug: Ketamine; patients Will receive ketamine

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
blood pressure	Effect of the study drugs as sedative agents on blood pressure in mechanically ventilated septic patients after abdominal exploration for intestinal surgery.	48 hours

Collaborators and Investigators

• Sponsor: New Valley University
• Investigators: Principal Investigator: Ahmed Ismail Abdel Sabour, MD, NewValley University

Study record dates

Study Major Dates

• Study Start (Actual): April 1, 2026
• Primary Completion (Estimated): June 1, 2026
• Study Completion (Estimated): October 1, 2026

Study Registration Dates

• First Submitted: June 20, 2024
• First Submitted That Met QC Criteria: July 5, 2024
• First Posted (Actual): July 8, 2024

Study Record Updates

• Last Update Posted (Actual): May 7, 2026
• Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria: May 2, 2026
• Last Verified: May 1, 2026

More Information

Terms related to this study

• Additional Relevant MeSH Terms: Organic Chemicals; Heterocyclic Compounds, 1-Ring; Heterocyclic Compounds; Azoles; Hydrocarbons; Cyclohexanes; Cycloparaffins; Hydrocarbons, Alicyclic; Hydrocarbons, Cyclic; Imidazoles; Dexmedetomidine; Ketamine
• Other Study ID Numbers: New valley anesthesia 4

Drug and device information, study documents

• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product: No
• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product: No
• product manufactured in and exported from the U.S.: No