ABSTRACT
<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To evaluate the influence of small-dose dexmedetomidine infusion on recovery of patients undergoing vertebral operation.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Sixty ASA I-II patients undergoing vertebral operation were randomly divided into two groups (n=30). In group I, dexmedetomidine infusion was pumped at the rate of 0.5 µg·kg(-1)·h(-1) from tracheal intubation to incision suture, and in group II, 0.9%saline was pumped instead. The mean arterial pressure, heart rate, Riker Sedation-Agitation Scale and Ramesay sedation score were recorded at the time points of autonomous respiration (T1), eye opening (T2), extubation (T3), 1 min after extubation (T4), 10 min after extubation (T5), and 30 min after extubation (T6).</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The recovery time of autonomous respiration and eye opening time in group I were significantly longer than those in group II, and the extubation time was significantly shorter in group I (P<0.05). Riker Sedation-Agitation Scale scores in group II were significantly higher than those in group I at T2 and T4, and Ramesay sedation scores in group I were significantly higher than those in group II at T1, T2 and T5 (P<0.05). The mean arterial pressure and heart rate at each time point was significantly lower in group I than in group II (P<0.05), especially at T3 and T4 (P<0.01). In both groups, the mean arterial pressure and heart rate at T3 and T4 were significantly higher than those at rest (P<0.05).</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>Small-dose dexmedetomidine infusion can reduce dysphoria and lower the risks during recovery from general anesthesia following vertebral operation.</p>