Effects of Intravenous Dexmedetomidine on Hemodynamic Responses to Pneumoperitoneum During Laparoscopic Cholecystectomy.

Background: Dexmedetomidine is a potent α_2 agonist which has been used for blunting the stress responses during critical events such as laryngoscopy, endotracheal intubation, pneumoperitoneum creation, and extubation. The purpose of this study was to see the efficacy of intravenously administered dexmedetomidine at a dose of 0.5 mcg/kg in attenuating the hemodynamic responses due to pneumoperitoneum during laparoscopic cholecystectomy under general anesthesia.

Methods: Sixty patients, ASA-PS class I (American Society of Anesthesiologist physical status class I), aged between 18 and 60 years, of either sex with weight ranging from 50 to 80 kg, scheduled for laparoscopic cholecystectomy were randomized into two groups (groups A and B) in a double-blinded fashion. Both groups were pre-medicated with an injection glycopyrrolate. Group A received 100 mL normal saline (NS) over 10 minutes while group B received dexmedetomidine 0.5 mcg/kg diluted in 100 mL NS over 10 minutes before induction of general anesthesia. Heart rate, systolic, diastolic, and mean arterial pressures were noted.

Results: Following pneumoperitoneum, there was no statistically significant difference in the hemodynamic parameters between the two groups (P > 0.05).

Conclusion: Administration of dexmedetomidine at a dose of 0.5 mcg/kg before induction did not blunt the hemodynamic responses to pneumoperitoneum during laparoscopic cholecystectomy.