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CC BY-NC-ND 4.0 · J Neuroanaesth Crit Care
DOI: 10.1055/s-0042-1758747
Original Article

Effects of Low versus Intermediate Doses of Dexmedetomidine Infusion on Blood Loss, Hemodynamics, and Operative Time in Transsphenoidal Pituitary Tumor Removal: A Prospective Randomized Study

Saipin Muangman
1   Department of Anesthesiology, Faculty of Medicine, Siriraj Hospital, Mahidol University, Bangkok, Thailand
,
Manee Raksakietisak 
1   Department of Anesthesiology, Faculty of Medicine, Siriraj Hospital, Mahidol University, Bangkok, Thailand
,
Phuping Akavipat
2   Department of Anesthesiology, Neurological Institute of Thailand, Bangkok, Thailand
,
Pranee Rushatamukayanunt
1   Department of Anesthesiology, Faculty of Medicine, Siriraj Hospital, Mahidol University, Bangkok, Thailand
,
Sirinuttakul Akkaworakit
1   Department of Anesthesiology, Faculty of Medicine, Siriraj Hospital, Mahidol University, Bangkok, Thailand
,
Natthaporn Romkespikun
1   Department of Anesthesiology, Faculty of Medicine, Siriraj Hospital, Mahidol University, Bangkok, Thailand
,
Porntip Mahatnirunkul
1   Department of Anesthesiology, Faculty of Medicine, Siriraj Hospital, Mahidol University, Bangkok, Thailand
› Author Affiliations Funding This study is supported by grant funds from Siriraj Research Development Fund (R016032005), Faculty of Medicine, Siriraj Hospital, Mahidol University.
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Abstract

Background Dexmedetomidine, an alpha-2 agonist, has been widely used as an anesthetic adjunct for transsphenoidal pituitary resection. However, there is no consensus on the appropriate infusion dosage. This study aimed to compare the effects of low (0.2 mcg/kg/h) and intermediate (0.5 mcg/kg/h) dexmedetomidine infusions during anesthetic maintenance on blood loss, hemodynamics, and operating time.

Methods A randomized controlled trial involving two centers was conducted. Between December 2015 and November 2019, 80 patients (40 in each group) who underwent elective transsphenoidal pituitary tumor resection were recruited. Dexmedetomidine was administered to group I at a loading dose of 0.5 mcg/kg, followed by 0.2 mcg/kg/h, and to group II at the same loading dose, followed by 0.5 mcg/kg/h. Comparative analyses were performed using the Student's t-test, repeated-measures analysis of variance, and Mann–Whitney U test; p-values < 0.05 were considered statistically significant.

Results Eighty patients were analyzed. Patient demographics were comparable. The difference in intraoperative blood loss between both groups (320 [220–525] vs. 250 [100-487] mL, p = 0.070) was not statistically significant. There were no differences in blood pressure or heart rate between the groups. In group II, the procedure took significantly less time (179 vs. 142 minutes, p = 0.018), with more episodes of transient hypotension (p = 0.034).

Conclusion When maintaining anesthesia for transsphenoidal pituitary resection, dexmedetomidine infusions of 0.2 and 0.5 mcg/kg/h showed the same effect on blood loss and hemodynamics; however, significantly more episodes of transient hypotension and shorter operating times were noted with the latter.

Keywords

operative time - blood pressure - dexmedetomidine

Supplementary Material



Publication History

Article published online:
06 February 2023

© 2023. Indian Society of Neuroanaesthesiology and Critical Care. This is an open access article published by Thieme under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution-NonDerivative-NonCommercial License, permitting copying and reproduction so long as the original work is given appropriate credit. Contents may not be used for commercial purposes, or adapted, remixed, transformed or built upon. (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/)

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