Comparison of Intra and Post-operative Sedation efficacy of Dexmedetomidine-Midazolam and Dexmedetomidine-Propofol for Major Abdominal Surgery

The effect of perioperative benzodiazepine administration on postoperative nausea and vomiting: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomised controlled trials

BACKGROUND

Despite recent systematic reviews suggesting their benefit for postoperative nausea, vomiting, or both (PONV) prevention, benzodiazepines have not been incorporated into guidelines for PONV prophylaxis because of concerns about possible adverse effects. We conducted an updated meta-analysis to inform future practice guidelines.

METHODS

We included randomised controlled trials (RCTs) of all languages comparing benzodiazepines with non-benzodiazepine comparators in adults undergoing inpatient surgery. Our outcomes were postoperative nausea, vomiting, or both. We assessed risk of bias for RCTs using the Cochrane Risk of Bias tool. We pooled data using a random-effects model and assessed the quality of evidence for each outcome using the Grading of Recommendations, Assessment, Development and Evaluation (GRADE) approach.

RESULTS

We screened 31 413 abstracts and 950 full texts. We included 119 RCTs; 104 were included in quantitative synthesis. Based on moderate certainty evidence, we found that perioperative benzodiazepine administration reduced the incidence of PONV (52 studies, n=5086, relative risk [RR]: 0.77, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.66-0.89; number needed to treat [NNT] 16; moderate certainty), postoperative nausea (55 studies, n=5916, RR: 0.72, 95% CI 0.62-0.83; NNT 21; moderate certainty), and postoperative vomiting (52 studies, n=5909, RR: 0.74, 95% CI 0.60-0.91; NNT 55; moderate certainty).

CONCLUSIONS

Moderate quality evidence shows that perioperative benzodiazepine administration decreases the incidence of PONV. The results of this systematic review and meta-analysis will inform future clinical practice guidelines.

SYSTEMATIC REVIEW PROTOCOL

The protocol for this systematic review was pre-registered with PROSPERO International Prospective Register of Systematic Reviews (CRD42022361088) and published in BMJ Open (PMID 31831540).

Intraoperative dexmedetomidine on postoperative pain in gastrointestinal surgery: an observational study

BACKGROUND

Dexmedetomidine (DEX) is widely used for adjuvant sedation and analgesia in gastrointestinal surgeries. The authors aimed to reassess the effects of intraoperative DEX on acute pain by comprehensive analysis of the multiple dimensions of pain.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

In this multicentre cohort study, patients undergoing gastrointestinal surgeries were prospectively enrolled in the China Acute Postoperative Pain Study. Patients were divided into DEX and non-DEX groups based on whether DEX was used during surgery. Patient satisfaction with pain treatment (rated on a numeric rating score, 0-10) and other pain-related outcomes were evaluated using the International Pain Outcome Questionnaire on the first postoperative day. The effects of intraoperative DEX were analyzed using logistic or linear regression for dichotomous or continuous variables, respectively. Propensity score matching and subgroup analyses were performed to appraise the correlation between intraoperative DEX and postoperative pain outcomes.

RESULTS

Of the 1260 patients eligible for analysis, 711 (56.4%) received intraoperative DEX. Propensity score matching resulted in 415 patients in each group. Intraoperative DEX was associated with higher patient satisfaction (β: 0.556; 95% CI: 0.366-0.745), and a decrease in the percentage of time spent in severe pain (β: -0.081; 95% CI: -0.104- -0.058), anxiety (odds ratio: 0.394; 95% CI: 0.307-0.506), helplessness (odds ratio: 0.539; 95% CI: 0.411-0.707), and postoperative opioid consumption (β: -16.342; 95% CI: -27.528- -5.155).

CONCLUSIONS

Intraoperative DEX was associated with the prognosis of acute postoperative pain in multiple aspects in patients undergoing major gastrointestinal surgery, including increased patient satisfaction, and a reduction in the duration of severe pain, postoperative anxiety and helplessness, and postoperative opioid consumption. Future studies to determine the dose and timing of DEX administration on pain-related outcomes are warranted.