Perioperative effect of dexmedetomidine on quality of analgesia and hemodynamic parameters in vaginal hysterectomy: A tertiary centre experience

Abstract

Vaginal hysterectomy Surgery with long acting local anaesthetic like bupivacaine still requires higher doses of analgesics in the post-operative period. Dexmedetomidine is highly selective αadrenoreceptor agonist and sympatholytic drug is a useful adjunct drug in patients undergoing vaginal hysterectomy under continuous spinal epidural block (CSE). We sought to study duration of perioperative analgesia, observe the intra-operative and post-operative hemodynamic changes and post-operative sedation effect of dexmedetomidine.: The study groups were divided as Group D (study group) administered 1 µg/kg Dexmedetomidine and Group C (control group) administered 0.9% saline drip at the rate of 1ml/kg. Dexmedetomidine group had prolonged duration of sensory blockade, duration for 2 dermatomal regression of sensory blockade and the duration for motor block regression to Modified Bromage scale 0. This group had prolonged duration of Time to first request for rescue analgesic.14% patients required mephentermine for management of hypotension.Intraoperative diastolic blood pressure (DBP) was lower in study group while Intraoperative Systolic blood pressure (SBP) was comparable in both the groups. Intravenous dexmedetomidine significantly decreases the heart rate and is associated with higher incidence of bradycardia. It is effective in providing postoperative analgesia and in preventing postoperative shivering with reduced incidence of postoperative nausea and vomiting.