The sedative effects and the attenuation of cardiovascular and arousal responses during anesthesia induction and intubation in pediatric patients: a randomized comparison between two different doses of preoperative intranasal dexmedetomidine

Objective: Premedication with intranasal dexmedetomidine (DEX) has shown to be an effective sedative in pediatric patients. This prospective, randomized, and controlled investigation was designed to evaluate whether the difference in intranasal DEX dosing would produce different beneficial effects on the attenuation of cardiovascular and arousal responses during anesthesia induction and intubation. MethodsForty children, aged from 3 to 6years, of American Society of Anesthesiologists physical status I or II and scheduled for elective adenotonsillectomy randomly received intranasal DEX 1gkg(-1) (group D1) or 2gkg(-1) (group D2) 30min before anesthesia induction. Anesthesia was induced with sevoflurane in oxygen flow. Mean arterial pressure (MAP) and heart rate (HR) as measurements of cardiovascular response and bispectral index (BIS) as an index of arousal response were recorded every 5min after intranasal DEX administration and measured every 1min for 5min after intubation. Sedation status, behavior scores, and mask induction scores were also assessed. ResultsMean arterial pressure did not show statistical differences during the anesthesia induction, but did demonstrate significantly milder responses to laryngoscopy and intubation in group D2 compared with group D1. Change in HR was consistent with MAP during laryngoscopy and intubation. Patients who received 2gkg(-1) DEX presented with deeper sedation and less anxiety by the assessments of the alertness scale, behavior score, and BIS scores. Group D2 dosing achieved more favorable scores in children undergoing mask induction. ConclusionIntranasal DEX 2gkg(-1) administered 30min before anesthesia induction provides considerable effect to attenuate the increase in MAP caused by intubation response. Changes in HR and BIS also demonstrate that this kind of premedication provides effective attenuation of intubation response. And preoperative intranasal DEX 2gkg(-1) produces optimal-sedation, more favorable anesthesia induction course in pediatric patients. Premedication of intranasal DEX is a considerable way to blunt cardiovascular and arousal responses to endotracheal intubation.