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Dexmedetomidine as intramuscular premedication for day‐case cataract surgery
Author(s) -
VIRKKILÄ M.,
ALIMELKKILÄ T.,
KANTO J.,
TURUNEN J.,
SCHEININ H.
Publication year - 1994
Publication title -
anaesthesia
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.839
H-Index - 117
eISSN - 1365-2044
pISSN - 0003-2409
DOI - 10.1111/j.1365-2044.1994.tb04257.x
Subject(s) - dexmedetomidine , medicine , anesthesia , midazolam , premedication , placebo , sedation , saline , sedative , heart rate , cataract surgery , blood pressure , surgery , alternative medicine , pathology
Summary The effects of dexmedetomidine 1.0 μg.kg ‐1 , midazolam 20 μg.kg ‐1 and saline placebo were assessed in a double‐blind, randomised study in 90 patients undergoing day‐case cataract surgery under regional anaesthesia. The trial drug was injected into the deltoid muscle 45 min before the peri‐ocular block. Dexmedetomidine 1.0 μg.kg ‐1 decreased intra‐ocular pressure before, during and after surgery. The maximum reduction in mean (SD) intra‐ocular pressure occurred in the dexmedetomine group just before discharge from hospital (17.7 (2.8) mmHg to 11.5 (2.9) mmHg) (p < 0.001 compared with midazolam and placebo). In contrast, midazolam did not differ from saline placebo. Dexmedetomidine and midazolam produced a similar sedative effect of short duration. Dexmedetomidine induced a moderate decrease in blood pressure (p < 0.001 compared with placebo) and a slight but statistically significant decrease in heart rate throughout the study period (p < 0.001 compared with placebo). Dexmedetomidine 1.0 μg.kg ‐1 intramuscularly, effectively reduced intra‐ocular pressure and produced short‐acting sedation with marginal cardiovascular effects; it may be a useful premedicant drug for elderly patients undergoing day‐case cataract surgery under regional anaesthesia.