Effect of dexmedetomidine on hemodynamics and stress reactions in patients undergoing hysterectomy with general anesthesia

Objective This study was to investigate the effect of dexmedetomidine(Dex)on hemodynamics and stress reactions in patients undergoing hysterectomy with general anesthesia.Methods Fourty patients,aged 42-58 years old,undergoing elective hysterectomy were randomly divided into two groups:Dexmedetomidine group(group D)and control group(group C).In group D,10ml/h(4μg/ml)of dexmedetomidine was infused 10 min before anesthesia and stopped until the uterus was removed.In group C,the same volume of saline was infused.Anesthesia was induced with midazolam,sufentanil,cisatracurim besilate and propofol.The patients were intubated and mechanically ventilated.Anesthesia was maintained with the infusion of propofol and remifentanil,and intermittent iv boluses of cisatracurium.The SBP,DBP,HR and the concentration of epinephrine,norepinephrine,cortisol from blood samples were monitored or evaluated before infusion of Dex(T0),at the start of the uterus operation(T1),10 min after uterus operation(T2),20 min after uterus operation(T3),30 min after uterus operation(T4),when uterus was removed(T5),and after the completion of the peritoneal suture(T6).Results In group C,the SBP,DBP and HR were significantly increased at T1-T5 when compared to T0,and were significantly higher when compared with those in the group D(P0.05).The concentration of epinephrine,norepinephrine,and cortisol in the group C were significantly increased at T1-T5 when compared to T0,and were higher than those in the group D(P0.05).Conclusion Dexmedetomidine could stabilize the hemodynamics in patients undergoing hysterectomy with general anesthesia.