The role of Dexmedetomidine in anesthesia of pediatric ophthalmic surgery

Objective To investigate the therapeutic effect of different doses of Dexmedetomidine on general anesthesia awakening agitation for children with ocular diseases. Methods Seventy-five children who underwent ophthalmic surgery were randomly divided into three groups. Children in group A and group B were given 0.5 μg/kg and 1.0 μg/kg Dexmedetomidine respectively, while children in control group were given the same volumes of saline solution. The children's heart rates and mean arterial pressure (MAP) of awake, 1 min, 5 min and 10 min after extubation were recorded. The waking time, extubation time, extubation quality score, score and the incidence of agitation, and postoperative Ramsay sedation scores were also analyzed. Results The MAP and heart rate at various time points in A and B group were lower than that in the control group, and those of group B were also lower than that in group A (P<0.05). There were statistically significant differences in tube drawing quality grade, agitating grade, restless incidence between group A and B and control group. There were statistically significant in waking and extubation time between group B and control group, and there were statistically significant differences in waking and extubation time between group B and group A (P<0.05). The Ramsay sedation score at each observation time point after extubation of A and B group were both obviously higher than that of the control group, and the Ramsay sedation score in 5 min and 10 min after extubation of group A were also higher than that of group B. There were 2 cases nausea, 3 cases vomiting in control group, and 2 patients of respiratory inhibition and 8 cases lethargy in B group, while there were no complications in group A. Conclusion Dexmedetomidine can prevent the general anesthesia awakening and reduce its incidence for children with ocular diseases, but high doses of Dexmedetomidine may bring the side effects such as excessive sedation. Key words: Dexmedetomidine; Agitation, emergence; Anesthesia, general