Effect of dexmedetomidine on the recovery period of general anesthesia in patients undergoing gastrointestinal surgery

Objective To assess whether intraoperative infusion of dexmedetomidine can reduce the time of extubation and opening eyes and make hemodynamic more smooth in extubation. Methods Nighty patients were randomly assigned to three groups. Group T1(n = 30) received a loading dose of dexmedetomidine 0.5 mg/kg iv during 15 min, followed by a continuous infusion at a rate of 0.5 μg·kg-1 ·h-1 throughout the operation. Group T2 (n = 30) received a loading dose of dexmedetomidine 0.5 mg/kg iv during 15 min, followed by a continuous infusion at a rate of 0.25 μg·kg-1·h-1 throughout the operation. Group C (n = 30) received a volume-matched bolus and infusion of placebo (0.9% saline). The recovery time from stopping propofol or remifentanil to extubation, the time from stopping remifentanil to open eyes, and the hemodynamic in extubation were recorded. Results The time from stopping infused propofol (TSP) [group C: (26.5 ± 8.8) min; group T1: (36.0 ± 12.8) min; group T2: (33.0 ± 7.6) min or remifentanil (TSR) [group C: (12.4 ± 7.4) min; group T1: (17.1 ± 9.9)min; group T2: (16.0 ± 7.9) min] to extubation were not significantly different. The time to opening eye in group T1 (22.1 ± 9.5 min) and T2 (37.2 ± 7.3 min) were significantly longer than that in control group (13.1 ± 4.8 min)(P 0.05). The blood pressure and heart rate were more stable in group T1 and T2 than in control group during anesthesia recovery period. Conclusion Continuous iv dexmedetomidine during abdominal surgery don't affect the time of tracheal extubation but prolong the time of opening eyes. The hemodynamic parameters are more stable during anesthesia recovery period when dexmedetomidine is co-administrated.