Exploring the association between dexmedetomidine and all-cause mortality in mechanically ventilated patients with sepsis through propensity score matching analysis and machine learning algorithms: a MIMIC-IV retrospective study

Dexmedetomidine use significantly reduces short-term mortality in mechanically ventilated patients with sepsis but prolongs the hospital and ICU length of stay (LOS) and duration of mechanical ventilation. Administering dexmedetomidine within 48 hours and maintaining an infusion rate at or below 0.6 μg/kg/h appears to be more beneficial. Moreover, dexmedetomidine use strongly influences mortality in these patients.