The effects of dexmedetomidine administration on the pulmonary artery pressure and the transpulmonary pressure gradient after the bidirectional superior cavopulmonary shunt

Assessment the effect of dexmedetomidine on incidence of paradoxical hypertension after surgical repair of aortic coarctation in pediatric patients

OBJECTIVE

The aim of the study was to assess the effect of dexmedetomidine on the incidence of paradoxical hypertension in patients undergoing aortic coarctation repair.

DESIGN

Randomized observational study.

SETTING

University hospital and cardiac center.

PATIENTS

The study included 108 pediatric patients with isolated aortic coarctation.

METHODS

The patients were classified into two groups (each = 54): Group D: the patients received dexmedetomidine as a loading dose of 0.5 μg/kg over 10 min followed by infusion 0.3 μg/kg/h during surgery and continued for the first 48 postoperative hours. Group C: The patients received an equal amount of normal saline. The medication was prepared by the nursing staff and given to anesthetist blindly. The collected data included the heart rate, systolic and diastolic arterial blood pressure, incidence, onset, severity and treatment of paradoxical hypertension, fentanyl dose and end-tidal sevoflurane concentration, amount of blood loss and urine output.

MAIN RESULTS

The heart rate, systolic and diastolic blood pressure decreased significantly with dexmedetomidine than Group C (P < 0.05). The incidence and severity of the paradoxical hypertension was lower with dexmedetomidine than Group C (P = 0.011, P = 0.017, respectively). The onset the paradoxical hypertension was earlier in Group C than dexmedetomidine (P = 0.026). The dose of fentanyl and sevoflurane concentration decreased significantly with dexmedetomidine (P = 0.034, P = 0.026, respectively). The blood loss decreased with dexmedetomidine (P = 0.020) and the urine output increased with dexmedetomidine (P = 0.024). The incidence of hypotension and bradycardia was more with dexmedetomidine (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSION

Dexmedetomidine is safe in pediatric patients undergoing aortic coarctation repair. It minimized the incidence and severity of paradoxical hypertension. It decreased the required antihypertensive medications.

Effects of dexmedetomidine on oxygenation and lung mechanics in patients with moderate chronic obstructive pulmonary disease undergoing lung cancer surgery: A randomised double-blinded trial

BACKGROUND

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a risk factor that increases the incidence of postoperative cardiopulmonary morbidity and mortality after lung resection. Dexmedetomidine, a selective α₂-adrenoreceptor agonist, has been reported previously to attenuate intrapulmonary shunt during one-lung ventilation (OLV) and to alleviate bronchoconstriction.

OBJECTIVE

The objective is to determine whether dexmedetomidine improves oxygenation and lung mechanics in patients with moderate COPD during lung cancer surgery.

DESIGN

A randomised, double-blinded, placebo-controlled study.

SETTING

Single university hospital.

PARTICIPANTS

Fifty patients scheduled for video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery who had moderate COPD. Patients were randomly allocated to a control group or a Dex group (n = 25 each).

INTERVENTIONS

In the Dex group, dexmedetomidine was given as an initial loading dose of 1.0 μg kg⁻¹ over 10 min followed by a maintenance dose of 0.5 μg kg⁻¹ h⁻¹ during OLV while the control group was administered a comparable volume of 0.9% saline. Data were measured at 30 min (DEX-30) and 60 min (DEX-60) after dexmedetomidine or saline administration during OLV.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES

The primary outcome was the effect of dexmedetomidine on oxygenation. The secondary outcome was the effect of dexmedetomidine administration on postoperative pulmonary complications.

RESULTS

Patients in the Dex group had a significantly higher PaO₂/FiO₂ ratio (27.9 ± 5.8 vs. 22.5 ± 8.4 and 28.6 ± 5.9 vs. 21.0 ± 9.9 kPa, P < 0.05), significantly lower dead space ventilation (19.2 ± 8.5 vs. 24.1 ± 8.1 and 19.6 ± 6.7 vs. 25.3 ± 7.8%, P < 0.05) and higher dynamic compliance at DEX-30 and DEX-60 (P = 0.0001 and P = 0.0184) compared with the control group. In the Dex group, the PaO₂/FiO₂ ratio in the postoperative period was significantly higher (P = 0.022) and the incidence of ICU admission was lower than in the control group.

CONCLUSION

Dexmedetomidine administration may provide clinically relevant benefits by improving oxygenation and lung mechanics in patients with moderate COPD undergoing lung cancer surgery.

TRIAL REGISTRATION

ClinicalTrial.gov identifier: NCT 02185430.