Effect of Low-Dose Dexmedetomidine on the Anesthetic and Recovery Profile of Sevoflurane-Based Anesthesia in Patients Presenting for Supratentorial Neurosurgeries: A Randomized Double-Blind Placebo-Controlled Trial

Abstract

<b>Background</b> Dexmedetomidine could be a suitable adjuvant in neuroanesthesia due to its analgesic and anesthetic-sparing properties with the added advantage of facilitating intraoperative neuromonitoring. However, its recovery profile is still debated upon, as in neuroanesthesia, a prompt recovery is essential for postoperative neurologic assessment. We designed this study to evaluate the effect of dexmedetomidine on the anesthetic and recovery profile of patients presenting for supratentorial neurosurgeries. <b>Materials and Methods</b> Forty adult patients undergoing supratentorial surgeries were recruited in this prospective, randomized, double-blinded study and were divided into two groups: group S and group SD. Both groups received sevoflurane and fentanyl for maintenance, whereas group SD alone received a low dose of dexmedetomidine infusion. Recovery parameters, opioid consumption, Richmond Agitation-Sedation Scale (RASS) and visual analogue scale (VAS) scores, incidence of nausea and vomiting, and intraoperative hemodynamics were analyzed. <b>Results</b> There were no statistically significant differences between the groups S and SD in case of recovery parameters-time taken (in minutes, presented as median with interquartile range [IQR]) for (1) eye-opening to command: 9.5 (8-18) versus 22.5 (5-47.5) ( <i>p</i> = 0.414); 2) following verbal command: 10.5 (8.25-29.5) versus 25 (10-28.75) ( <i>p</i> = 0.512); (3) extubation: 11 (9.25-22) versus 25 (10-30) ( <i>p</i> = 0.277); and (4) getting oriented to place, time, and date: 23 (20-52.75) versus 27.5 (25-36.5) ( <i>p</i> = 0.121). Fentanyl consumption was significantly less in group SD (451 ± 39.3) versus group S (524.3 ± 144.1) ( <i>p</i> = 0.034). The median RASS score with IQR and the median VAS scores with IQR were comparable between the groups at all time points. Of the 20 patients in group S, 5 had complaints of nausea and vomiting compared with none in the group SD, although it was not statistically significant. The hemodynamic parameters did not show a significant difference between the groups except for a surge in mean arterial pressure at 30 minutes in group S. <b>Conclusion</b> Low-dose dexmedetomidine as an adjuvant to sevoflurane- and fentanyl-based anesthesia could provide stable hemodynamics and lesser anesthetics and opioid consumption, without adversely affecting the recovery profile in patients undergoing supratentorial neurosurgical procedures.