Effect of dexmedetomidine infusion on postoperative recovery for patients undergoing major spinal surgery during propofol anesthesia

Objective: To evaluate the effect of intraoperative dexmedetomidine (DEX) infusion during propofol intravenous anesthesia on postoperative recovery after major spinal surgery.

Methods: Sixty patients aged 18 to 65 (American Society of Anesthesiologists, ASA I-II), scheduled for spinal surgery from January 2014 to May 2014 were randomized into two groups. The DEX group (n=30) received 0.5 μg/kg of DEX ten minutes before anesthesic induction, followed by an infusion of DEX at 0.2 μg/(kg×h) intraoperatively and the control group (n=30) was given identical amounts of normal saline. At the end of surgery, the patients of both groups received patient-controlled intravenous analgesia (PCIA) with morphine 0.5 mg/h (1 mg demand dose and 8 min lockout). Heart rate and mean arterial pressure (MAP) were continually monitored during operation and in the post-anesthesia care unit (PACU). The propofol and sufentanil consumptions during operation and the morphine consumption 48 h after surgery were recorded. The time for recovery and extubation were recorded. The followed-up evaluations were performed to assess Ramsay scores, visual analogue scale (VAS) pain scores as well as side effects in PACU and 48 h after surgery.

Results: Heart rate of DEX group was lower than that of control group after intubation and extubation and in PACU 10 min (P<0.05). MAP was lower in DEX group than that in control group after extubation and in PACU (P<0.05). Compared with control group, the propofol consumption during anesthesic induction, the sufentanil consumption during operation and the cumulative consumption of morphine 2 h and 6 h after surgery were decreased (P<0.05). There were no differences between the two groups as to the time for recovery or extubation. Compared with control group, the VAS pain scores were significantly decreased (P<0.01), the incidence of postoperative nausea and vomiting in DEX group were significantly decreased (P<0.05) 48 h after surgery.

Conclusions: Intraoperative infusion of DEX improved quality of recovery, provided good analgesia, and decreased morphine use and the incidence of postoperative nausea and vomiting after major spinal surgery.