The effect of intravenous infusion of dexmedetomidine versus lidocaine as an analgesic adjuvant to balanced general anesthesia and enhanced recovery after abdominal surgery

Abstract

Abstract Background Intravenous dexmedetomidine and lidocaine have been shown to decrease perioperative surgical pain and analgesic consumption and facilitate the return of bowel function, decreasing post-operative hospitalization. Results On the first post-operative day, VAS score and total consumption of narcotics were statistically insignificant between the two groups. Heart rate and mean arterial pressure were significantly lower in the dexmedetomidine group than in the Lidocaine group all through the surgery (p value < 0.001). Post-operative nausea and vomiting were statistically higher in group D than in group L (p value 0.001). Conclusions The administration of either lidocaine or dexmedetomidine did not show superiority in post-operative analgesia or perioperative narcotics consumption. However, lidocaine infusion showed less drug-related side effects from the aspect of intraoperative hemodynamics stability, post-operative ileus, nausea, and vomiting.