ABSTRACT
Background: Severe postoperative pain is a major dilemma for patients undergoing abdominal aortic surgery. Transversus abdominis plane (TAP) block has been described a successful pain management technique after major abdominal surgery. Dexmedetomidine was proved to enhance the analgesic action of local anesthetics. Aim: This study was aimed to assess the impact of adding dexmedetomidine to levobupivacaine during TAP block in patients undergoing abdominal aortic operations. Patients and Methods: We included 114 patients in this prospective trial, and they were enrolled into two groups; the L group received levobupivacaine only, and the LD group received levobupivacaine plus dexmedetomidine. The block was performed before anesthetic induction. Postoperative pain score was our main outcome. Statistical Analysis: The collected data were tabulated and analyzed through the SPSS software program IBM's Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) statistics for Windows (version 25, 2017) (IBM Corporation, Armonk, NY, USA). The categorical data were expressed as numbers and percentages and then compared using the Chi-square test. The continuous data were expressed as mean and standard deviation if normally distributed, or median and range if abnormally distributed. The former data were compared through the one-way ANOVA, while the latter were compared through the Kruskal-Wallis test. Any P < 0.05 was considered statistically significant. Results: Group LD showed significantly earlier sensory blocks compared to the other group. Postoperative pain scores were comparable between the two groups for the initial 4 h following the surgery. Adjuvant dexmedetomidine was associated with better pain scores for the subsequent 12 h compared to Group L. The duration till the first analgesic request showed a significant increase in the LD group (13.3 vs. 11.09 h in Group L). In addition, the same group showed a significant decline in their opioid consumption after the operation (48.95 µg vs. 72.63 µg in the other group). Postoperative nausea and vomiting were significantly increased in Group L. Conclusion: Adjuvant dexmedetomidine has a significant beneficial impact on postoperative analgesic profile. Its use as an adjuvant to peripheral and neuraxial nerve blocks should be recommended in pain management practice.
ABSTRACT
Background: Dexmedetomidine is associated with good perioperative hemodynamics together with decreased opioid requirements. Furthermore, propofol has been used to achieve hypotensive anesthesia as a part of total intravenous anesthesia. Aims: This study was performed to compare dexmedetomidine and propofol on the adequacy of hypotensive anesthesia during transsphenoidal resection of pituitary tumors. Patients and Methods: A total of 110 cases were included in this prospective randomized study. They were randomized into two equal groups; Group D commenced on Dexmedetomidine, and Group P, which received propofol. Comparing intraoperative hemodynamic parameters and the Boezaart Bleeding Scale was our primary outcome. The secondary outcomes included isoflurane and propranolol consumption, recovery, postoperative analgesic profile. Statistical Analysis: IBM's SPSS Statistics (Statistical Package for the Social Sciences) for Windows (version 25, 2017) was used for the statistical analysis of the collected data. Shapiro-Wilk test was used to check the normality of the data distribution. The quantitative variables were expressed as mean and standard deviation, whereas the categorical variables were expressed as frequency and percentage. Independent sample t and Mann - Whitney tests were used for the comparison of parametric and nonparametric continuous data, respectively. For pair-wise comparison of data (within-subjects), the follow-up values were compared to their corresponding basal value using the paired samples t-test or Wilcoxon matched-pairs signed-ranks test. Fisher exact and Chi-square tests were used for inter-group comparison of nominal data using the crosstabs function. Results: Age, gender, body mass index, and systemic comorbidities did not significantly differ between the two groups. Furthermore, heart rate and blood pressure were comparable at baseline, during operation, and after extubation. Boezaart score, blood loss, isoflurane, and propranolol consumption were also comparable between the two groups. Group D expressed significantly longer emergence and extubation times than Group P. Nevertheless, cases in the same group expressed lower Visual Analog Scale values and postoperative analgesic requirements. Conclusion: Although Dexmedetomidine and propofol are associated with comparable intraoperative hemodynamic changes, the former drug appears to be superior regarding pain control, postoperative analgesic requirement.
