The effect of perioperative infused dexmedetomidine on postoperative analgesic consumption in mastoidectomy operations

Objectives: We aimed to investigate the effect of dexmedetomidine infusion on the amount of opioid that is consumed during the operation, the amount of analgesic that the patient requires after the operation and on pain scores. Methods: Forty patients who were ASA I-II, between 18-50 years old, and who were scheduled for mastoidectomy operation were included in the study. Patients were randomized into two groups as group Dexmedetomidine (Group D) and group Placebo (Group P). Dexmedetomidine was administered at the rate of 0.5 mcg/kg/hour to the cases in Group D during operation and 9% NaCl was administered at the same rate and volume to the cases in Group P. Patients were connected to a Patient-Controlled Analgesia (PCA) device prepared with tramadol. Patients were followed for 24 hours. Ramsay Sedation Scale, visual analog scale (VAS), non-invasive systolic blood pressure (SBP), diastolic blood pressure (DBP), mean blood pressure (MBP), end-tidal sevoflurane, extubation times, total remifentanil consumption, total demand of PCA, and total tramadol consumption from PCA were recorded. Results: No difference was determined between groups in demographic level and extubation times. Total remifentanil consumption, additional analgesic requirement, total demand of PCA, total amount of PCA consumption, and mean VAS were higher in the control group. First demand time of PCA was longer in the study group. Conclusion: Results of our study demonstrated that continuous infusion of dexmedetomidine during the operation could provide postoperative patient comfort without affecting the extubation time while concomitantly decreasing the consumption of tramadol.