The Effect of Intraoperative Dexmedetomidine on Postoperative Analgesia and Sedation in Pediatric Patients Undergoing Tonsillectomy and Adenoidectomy

Abstract

The total postoperative rescue opioid requirements were similar in tonsillectomy patients receiving intraoperative dexmedetomidine or morphine. However, the use of dexmedetomidine 1 microg/kg and morphine 100 microg/kg had the advantages of an increased time to first analgesic and a reduced need for additional rescue analgesia doses, without increasing discharge times.