ABSTRACT
Background: Dexmedetomidine is a centrally acting alpha-2 adrenoceptor agonist. In this study, we compared dexmedetomidine to fentanyl in attenuating sympathetic response to laryngoscopy and tracheal intubation. Methods: Eighty ASA grade I-II patients requiring tracheal intubation were included in this prospective study and were randomly assigned to the dexmedetomidine (Group D) and fentanyl group (Group F) (40 patients in each group). Both the drugs were given at 1 μg/kg dose prior to laryngoscopy. We assessed heart rate, blood pressures and complications (bradycardia, hypotension and sedation). Results: The two groups were comparable in demographic parameters. The baseline mean heart rate (P=0.94) was not significantly different between Group F and Group D. Increase in heart rate after laryngoscopy and intubation was significantly lower in Group D compared to Group F (P=0.039). Mean heart rate remained lower at one minute after intubation in Group D but it was not statistically significant (94.64 s vs 86.28 sec). The difference in mean heart rate between two groups was comparable at three, five, ten and fifteen minutes after intubation. The baseline Mean arterial pressure was comparable between the groups (P=0.83) and remained similar throughout 15 minutes after intubation. Group D showed significant hypotension compared to Group F (P=0.03), whereas there was no significant bradycardia between these groups (P=0.19). Mean sedation score is higher in Group D compared to Group F. Conclusion: At 1 μg/kg dose, both dexmedetomidine and fentanyl cause partial attenuation of sympathetic response to laryngoscopy and intubation but dexmedetomidine blunts this response more effectively than fentanyl.