Editorial evaluates the impact of dexmedetomidine on delirium in cardiac surgery, highlighting peri-operative interventions.
AnaesthesiaEarly View Editorial Dexmedetomidine for cardiac surgery: case closed? This article relates to: Effect of peri-operative pharmacological interventions on postoperative delirium in patients having cardiac surgery: a systematic review and Bayesian network meta-analysis Ivo Queiroz, Lucas M. Barbosa, Mariano Gallo Ruelas, Beatriz Araújo, Maria L. R. Defante, Arthur H. Tavares, Cynthia Florencio de Mesquita, Tulio Pimentel, Beatriz Ximenes Mendes, Iuri Ferreira Felix, André Rivera, Rafael Oliva Morgado Ferreira, Helen M. de Oliveira, Bruno B. Righetto, Nathan J. Smischney, Guangyu Tong, Daqing Ma, Anaesthesia First Published online: September 1, 2025 Mike Charlesworth, Corresponding Author Mike Charlesworth [email protected] orcid.org/0000-0001-7389-4955 @LachieMiles Department of Cardiothoracic Anaesthesia, Critical Care and ECMO, Wythenshawe Hospital, Manchester, UK Correspondence to: Mike Charlesworth Email: [email protected]Search for more papers by this authorLachlan F. Miles, Lachlan F. Miles Department of Anaesthesia, Austin Health, Melbourne, VIC, Australia Department of Critical Care, Melbourne Medical School, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, VIC, AustraliaSearch for more papers by this author Mike Charlesworth, Corresponding Author Mike Charlesworth [email protected] orcid.org/0000-0001-7389-4955 @LachieMiles Department of Cardiothoracic Anaesthesia, Critical Care and ECMO, Wythenshawe Hospital, Manchester, UK Correspondence to: Mike Charlesworth Email: [email protected]Search for more papers by this authorLachlan F. Miles, Lachlan F. Miles Department of Anaesthesia, Austin Health, Melbourne, VIC, Australia Department of Critical Care, Melbourne Medical School, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, VIC, AustraliaSearch for more papers by this author First published: 22 September 2025 https://doi.org/10.1111/anae.70015 1 Department of Cardiothoracic Anaesthesia, Critical Care and ECMO, Wythenshawe Hospital, Manchester, UK 2 Department of Anaesthesia, Austin Health, Melbourne, VIC, Australia 3 Department of Critical Care, Melbourne Medical School, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, VIC, Australia The editorial accompanies an article by Queiroz et al., Anaesthesia 2025; https://doi.org/10.1111/anae.16757. Read the full textAboutPDF ToolsRequest permissionExport citationAdd to favoritesTrack citation ShareShare Give accessShare full text accessShare full-text accessPlease review our Terms and Conditions of Use and check box below to share full-text version of article.I have read and accept the Wiley Online Library Terms and Conditions of UseShareable LinkUse the link below to share a full-text version of this article with your friends and colleagues. Learn more.Copy URL Share a linkShare onEmailFacebookxLinkedInRedditWechatBluesky References 1Brown CH IV, Probert J, Healy R, et al. Cognitive decline after delirium in patients undergoing cardiac surgery. Anesthesiology 2018; 129: 406–416. https://doi.org/10.1097/aln.0000000000002253. 10.1097/aln.0000000000002253 PubMed Web of Science® Google Scholar 2Koster S, Hensens AG, van der Palen J. The long-term cognitive and functional outcomes of postoperative delirium after cardiac surgery. 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