Clinical therapeutic effect of dexmedetomidine on patients during the extubation period of general anesthesia

Abstract

To observe the clinical effect of dexmedetomidine on patients during the extubation in general anesthesia. A total of 90 patients scheduled for general anesthesia were divided into 3 groups (n=30): A dexmedetomidine group (DEX group), a midazolam group (MID group), and a control group(C group). Anesthesia drugs were stopped 10 minutes before the end of the operation. At the same time, the patients in the DEX group were given dexmedetomidine at the rate of 1 g/(kg.h) for 10 min by vein first, which was continuously pumped at the rate of 0.3 g/(kg.h) for 20 min after the operation. The patients in the MID group were given midazolamin at 0.5 mg/kg for 60 s by vein first, which was continuously pumped at the rate of the 0.04 mg/(kg.h) for 20 min after the operation. The patients in the C group were not given any drug. Awakening time and extubation time after the operation were recorded. Ramsay scores, heart rate, mean arterial blood pressure, respiratory rate, and SpO₂were recorded at time of extubation, 10 min or 1 h after extubation. Chills, nausea, vomiting and other side effects after the operation were recorded. Awakening and extubation time were not affected in the DEX group, while delayed recovery occurred in the MID group (P<0.05). Compared with the C group, patients in the DEX and MID groups gained better sedative effect, with 2-4 Ramsay scores (P<0.05). The blood pressure and heart rate were steady in the DEX and MID groups, while inhibition of respiration appeared in the MID group. Dexmedetomidine can provide an effective sedation for the patients without affecting the awakening and extubation time. The hemodynamics could be stably maintained by using dexmedetomidine in patients during the extubation in general anesthesia.