RESUMEN
Objective To study the preemptive analgesic effect of dexmedetomidine (DEX) combined with ropivacaine in spine posterior approach. Methods A total of 75 patients were randomly divided into three groups: group A(control), group B (DEX infusion until the end of surgery), group C (DEX infusion continued until 24h after operation), and all three groups received local infiltration with ropivacaine around the wound after operation. Results Being compared with group C, the visual analogue scale (VAS) in group B and C was reduced in 6 to 72 h after extubation; the time of ini-tial postoperative analgesia was delayed and the total amount of tramadol was also reduced in group B and C (P<0.05). The level of serum cortisol was decreased in group B and C (P<0.05). Conclusion Continual infusion of DEX com-bined with ropivacaine can significantly reduce postoperative pain and the amount of analgesic for patients with spine posterior approach surgery.