Dexmedetomidine as an anaesthetic adjuvant in patients undergoing intracranial tumour surgery: a double-blind, randomized and placebo-controlled study †

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Abstract
Background. Dexmedetomidine (DEX) has been shown to provide good perioperative haemodynamic stability with decreased intraoperative opioid requirements. It may have neural protective effects, and thus may be a suitable anaesthetic adjuvant to neurosurgical anaesthesia. Methods. Fifty-four patients scheduled for elective surgery of supratentorial brain tumour were randomized to receive in a double-blind manner a continuous DEX infusion (plasma target concentration 0.2 or 0.4 ng ml−1) or placebo, beginning 20 min before anaesthesia and continuing until the start of skin closure. The DEX groups received fentanyl 2 μg kg−1 at the induction of anaesthesia and before the start of operation, the placebo group 4 μg kg−1, respectively. Anaesthesia was maintained with nitrous oxide in oxygen and isoflurane. Results. The median times from the termination of N2O to extubation were 6 (3–27), 3 (0–20) and 4 (0–13) min in placebo, DEX-0.2 and DEX-0.4 groups, respectively (PPPPvs 82%, PConclusions. DEX increased perioperative haemodynamic stability in patients undergoing brain tumour surgery. Compared with fentanyl, the trachea was intubated faster without respiratory depression.

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