Pulmonary protection of dexmedetomidine during one-lung ventilation in patients undergoing radical operation for lung cancer

Objective To evaluate the pulmonary protection of dexmedetomidine during one-lung ventilation in patients undergoing radical operation for lung cancer.Methods Thirty patients of both sexes,aged 40-70 yr,weighing 50-80 kg,of ASA physical status Ⅰ-Ⅲ,scheduled for elective radical operation for lung cancer,were randomized into 2 groups (n =15 each):dexmedetomidine group (group D) and control group (group C).Before induction of anesthesia,a loading dose of dexmedetomidine 1.0 μg/kg was infused over 10 min,followed by continuous infusion of dexmedetomidine at a rate of 0.6 μg· kg-1 · h-1 until the chest was closed in group D,while the equal volume of normal saline was given in group C.Immediately after induction of anesthesia,at 30 and 60 min of one-lung ventilation,and at the end of operation,arterial blood samples were collected for determination of the serum concentrations of TNF-α,IL-6 and IL-8,and for blood gas analysis.Oxygenation index was calculated.Results Compared with group C,the serum concentrations of TNF-α,IL-6 and IL-8 were significantly decreased,and oxygenation index was increased in group D.Conclusion Dexmedetomidine can mitigate inflammatory responses during one-lung ventilation and improve pulmonary function,thus providing pulmonary protection in patients undergoing radical operation for lung cancer. Key words: Dexmedetomidine ;  Respiration, artificial;  Systemic inflammatory response syndrome ;  Respiratory function tests