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Single‐dose dexmedetomidine reduces agitation and provides smooth extubation after pediatric adenotonsillectomy
Author(s) -
GULER GULEN,
AKIN AYNUR,
TOSUN ZEYNEP,
ORS SEVGI,
ESMAOGLU ALIYE,
BOYACI ADEM
Publication year - 2005
Publication title -
pediatric anesthesia
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.704
H-Index - 82
eISSN - 1460-9592
pISSN - 1155-5645
DOI - 10.1111/j.1460-9592.2004.01541.x
Subject(s) - dexmedetomidine , medicine , anesthesia , sevoflurane , emergence delirium , analgesic , placebo , sedative , incidence (geometry) , surgery , sedation , physics , alternative medicine , pathology , optics
Summary Background : Dexmedetomidine has shown sedative, analgesic, and anxiolytic effects after intravenous (IV) administration. Sevoflurane is associated with a high incidence of emergence agitation in preschool children. In this placebo‐controlled study, we examined the effect of single dose dexmedetomidine on emergence agitation in children undergoing adenotonsillectomy. Methods : In a double‐blinded trial, 60 children (age 3–7 years) were randomly assigned to receive dexmedetomidine 0.5 μ g·kg −1 IV or placebo, 5 min before the end of surgery. All patients received a standardized anesthetic regimen. For induction and maintenance of anesthesia we used sevoflurane. After surgery, the incidence and severity of agitation was measured 2 h postoperatively. The incidence of untoward airway events after extubation, such as breath holding, severe coughing, or straining were recorded. After surgery, the children's behavior and pain were assessed with a 5‐point scale. Results : The agitation and pain scores in the dexmedetomidine group were better than those in the placebo group ( P < 0.05). The incidence of severe agitation (a score of 4 or more), and severe pain (a score of 3 or more) were significantly less in the dexmedetomidine group ( P < 0.05). The number of severe coughs per patient in the dexmedetomidine group was significantly decreased compared with the control group ( P < 0.05). Postoperative vomiting was similar in both groups. Times to emergence and extubation were significantly longer in the dexmedetomidine group ( P < 0.05). Conclusions : We conclude that 0.5 μ g·kg −1 dexmedetomidine reduces agitation after sevoflurane anesthesia in children undergoing adenotonsillectomy.