Dexmedetomidine and Myocardial Protection

"Anesthesia is induced using midazolam or etomidate, and sufentanil. A target-controlled infusion of propofol and remifentanil is used for anesthesia maintenance.~From anesthesia induction before the initiation of cardiopulmonary bypass, dexmedetomidine is infused intravenously at a rate of 0.5 mcg/kg/hr after a loading dose infusion of 0.75 mcg/kg for 10 mins."

During the same time window for dexmedetomidine, normal saline is infused at the same rate calculated for dexmedetomidine.