Testing a sleep medication to prevent confusion after heart surgery

After heart surgery, some patients experience confusion and difficulty sleeping during their hospital recovery. This trial is testing whether a medication called daridorexant—which helps improve sleep—might reduce confusion and help patients sleep better during the critical first three days after surgery. Half of the participants will receive the medication, and half will receive a placebo (a pill with no active ingredient), so researchers can see if the medication actually makes a difference.

Confusion after major heart surgery is common and can slow recovery and cause distress to patients and families. Since poor sleep is thought to contribute to this confusion, this medication—which is designed to improve sleep—may help prevent it from happening in the first place.