European Journal of Molecular & Clinical Medicine

Background: Emergence agitation has potential to harm both patients and caregivers. This is more often witnessed in patient undergoing otolaryngology operations under general anesthesia with volatile anesthetic used for maintenance.
Aim: We investigated the effects of intra-operative dexmedetomidine infusion on emergence agitation and quality of recovery after functional endoscopic sinus surgery in adult patients.
Materials and Methods: One hundred patients undergoing functional endoscopic sinus surgery were randomized into two groups. The dexmedetomidine group (Group D, n = 50) received dexmedetomidine infusion at a rate of 0.4 mcg/kg/hr from induction of anaesthesia until extubation, while the control group (Group C, n = 50) received volume-matched normal saline infusion as placebo. Propofol (2 mg/kg) and fentanyl (2 mcg/kg) were used for induction of anaesthesia, and sevoflurane was used for maintenance of anaesthesia. The incidence of agitation, haemodynamic parameters, and recovery characteristics were evaluated during emergence. A 40-item quality-of-recovery questionnaire (QoR-40) was provided to patients 24 hours after surgery.
Results: The incidence of agitation was lower in Group D than Group C (28 vs 56 %, P = 0.018). Mean arterial pressure and heart rate were more stable intra-operatively and during emergence in Group D than in Group C (P < 0.05). Time to extubation, nausea and vomiting, and pain scores were similar between the groups. Global QoR-40 score at 24 hours after surgery was higher in Group D (mean 174.7 ± 6.99) compared with Group C (mean 169.4 ± 9.91) (P < 0.05).
Conclusion: Intra-operative infusion of dexmedetomidine provided smooth and hemodynamically stable emergence. It also improved quality of recovery after nasal surgery.