Effectiveness of dexmedetomidine in reducing blood loss during middle ear surgery under general anaesthesia

Background: Controlled hypotension is crucial for optimal surgical conditions during the operation in the middle ear. This study evaluated dexmedetomidine's effectiveness in decreasing loss of blood during the surgery of the middle ear under general anesthesia. Materials and Method: A prospective, randomized, double-blinded study of 100 female patients (ASA I-II) undergoing middle ear surgery was carried out to observe the effectiveness of dexmedetomidine in reducing blood loss during middle ear surgery under general anaesthesia. Group D (n=50) received dexmedetomidine (1 μg/kg loading, 0.4-0.7 μg/kg/hr maintenance); Group C (n=50) received normal saline. Primary outcomes included loss of blood , quality of field of surgery, and hemodynamic parameters.Results: Group D showed significantly lower loss of blood (145.6 ± 32.4 vs 198.3 ± 41.7 mL, p<0.001), better scores of visibility of field of surgery (1.8 ± 0.6 vs 2.9 ± 0.8, p<0.001), and improved hemodynamic stability. Time of emergence was slightly prolonged in Group D (8.4 ± 2.1 vs 6.8 ± 1.9 min, p=0.02), but postoperative pain scores were lower (VAS 3.2 ± 1.1 vs 4.8 ± 1.4, p<0.001). Adverse events were comparable between groups. Conclusion: Dexmedetomidine effectively decreases loss of blood during surgery and improves visibility of the field of surgery during the surgery of the middle ear, with minimal adverse effects. J Med Coll Women Hosp.2025; 21 (2):102-109