ABSTRACT
Objective:To determine whether dexmedetomidine (Dex) improves oxygenation and lung mechanics in patients with moderate chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) during lung cancer surgery.Methods:Fifty-six patients with moderate COPD were randomly allocated to a control group and a Dex group (n=28 each).In the Dex group,dexmedetomidine was given as an initial loading dose at 1.0 μg/kg lasting for 10 min followed by a maintenance dose at 0.5 μg/(kg-h) during OLV while the control group was administered an equal volume of 0.9％ saline accordingly.Results:Patients in the Dex group had a significantly higher oxygenation index (P＜0.05) and higher dynamic lung compliance at Dex-30 and Dex-60 (P＜0.05) compared with those in the control group.In the Dex group,oxygenation index in the postoperative period was significantly higher (P=0.025) and postoperative complications were lower than those in the control group.Conclusion:Dex administration may provide dinically relevant benefits by improving oxygenation index and lung mechanics,and reducing postoperative pulmonary complications in patients with moderate COPD underwent lung cancer surgery.