Dexmedetomidine Infusion to Reduce Emergence Agitation Post Operatively

What is it about?

Dexmedetomidine Infusion to Reduce Emergence Agitation Post Operatively

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Photo by Noah Buscher on Unsplash

Photo by Noah Buscher on Unsplash

Why is it important?

Background: Emergence Agitation is a very common phenomenon seen after nasal surgeries, can be due to the nasal packing done and feeling of shortness of breath. We did this study to investigate the efficacy of Inj. Dexmedetomidine infusion to reduce the incidence of emergence agitation in adults undergoing nasal surgeries. Methods: 60 adult patients undergoing nasal surgeries were randomized into two groups. The Group-D (n=30) receive dexmedetomidine infusion at rate of 0.5 mcg/kg/hour from starting of induction of anesthesia and stopped before extubation while Group-P (n=30) received normal saline infusion as placebo. Induction of anesthesia was done with Inj. Propofol (2-2.5 mg/kg) & fentanyl (1 mcg/kg) and sevofluarane used for maintainance of anesthesia. The incidence of Emergence Agitation (EA) evaluated by Ricker’s Agitation sedation scale (RSAS) and intraoperative haemodynamic stability were evaluated in study. Results: Incidence of Emergence agitation was lower in Group-D than Group-P. Mean arterial blood pressure & heart rate were stable intra operatively and during emergence agitation in Group-D as compared to Group-P. There was no delay in extubation observed with no residual sedation in group D. Conclusion: Emergence agitation in the early post extubation phase following general anesthesia is a prevelantphenomenon seen during nasal surgery patients in adults. Intra operative dexmedetomidine infusion reduces postoperative Emergence Agitation (EA) and provides good intra operative haemodynamic stability in adults undergoing nasal surgeries without any respiratory depression and delayed extubation.

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