Recovery Parameters of Dexmedetomidine as an Anaesthetic Adjuvant in Ear Surgeries

Introduction: Effects of Dexmedetomidine on recovery from anaesthesia still remains controversial. This study was conducted to study the effect of Dexmedetomidine in recovery from anaesthesia. The primary aim was to assess recovery from anaesthesia in terms of time to eye opening, time to follow verbal commands, time to extubation and sedation in the post-operative recovery room. Methodology: After approval from institutional ethical committee a randomized controlled study was conducted in forty patients posted for elective ENT surgeries under general anaesthesia. Patients were randomly divided into Group D and Group C, 20 in each Group based on computer generated table of random numbers. Dexmedetomidine Group received a bolus dose of 1mcg/kg body weight in 100ml normal saline over ten minutes followed by infusion @0.4mcg/hr. Control Group patients received saline infusion. General anaesthesia was induced and maintained as per institutional protocols. Time to eye opening, time to following verbal commands and time to extubation after discontinuation of the study drug was recorded. Sedation score was assessed after shifting the patient to the post-operative recovery room using Ramsay Sedation Score. Patients were observed in post anaesthesia recovery room for adverse effects. Results: It was observed that there was no difference in time to eye opening, following verbal commands and extubation between both Groups. Ramsay sedation score was significantly higher in patients in Group D compared with that of Group C (P<0.05). The requirements of analgesics and antiemetics in the post-operative period were more in Group C compared to Group D. There were no anaesthesia related complications in any of the Groups. Conclusion: Dexmedetomidine is associated with greater sedation in the post-operative period but does not delay recovery from anaesthesia. Dexmedetomidine also reduces the requirement of analgesics and antiemetics in the post-operative period.