Comparison of local anaesthesia with dexmedetomidine sedation and general anaesthesia during septoplasty

Background and objective To compare general anaesthesia and local anaesthesia with dexmedetomidine on the basis of postoperative pain and surgical bleeding after septoplasties. Method Sixty patients with ASA 1 or 2 were divided into the local anaesthesia with dexmedetomidine (LAD) group (n = 30) and the general anaesthesia group (n = 30). Heart rate (HR), SBP and DBP were monitored. The amount of surgical bleeding, duration of surgery and recovery, postoperative pain evaluations [by visual analogue scale (VAS)] and nausea-vomiting were also recorded. Patients' satisfaction with anaesthesia and quality of breathing was questioned 1 week after discharge. Results HR values were significantly higher in the general anaesthesia group than in the LAD group at the 15th min and at the end of surgery. The SBP value at the 30th min was significantly higher in the LAD group than in the general anaesthesia group. No difference was observed between the groups with respect to the DBP value. Surgical bleeding and the duration of recovery were significantly less in the LAD group. The postoperative VAS scores were significantly higher in the general anaesthesia group than in the LAD group. Postoperative nausea-vomiting was also significantly greater in the general anaesthesia group. Although more patients in the LAD group preferred this anaesthetic procedure to general anaesthesia, the quality of breathing was better in both groups after surgery. Conclusion Septoplasty performed under local anaesthesia with dexmedetomidine sedation resulted in less surgical bleeding, less postoperative pain, a more stable haemodynamic state, less nausea-vomiting, a shorter recovery period and a higher level of anaesthesia satisfaction. Eur J Anaesthesiol 2010; 27: 960-964