Comparison of Target controlled infusion (TCI) of dexmedetomidine versus TCI propofol for one lung ventilation: A randomised clinical study

This prospective, interventional, parallel-arm, single-centred, randomised controlled study aims to compare the effectiveness of a target-controlled infusion of dexmedetomidine with a target-controlled infusion of propofol for the prevention of hypoxemia during one-lung ventilation at doses that maintain surgical depth of anaesthesia (bispectral index 40-60). The study shall include 60 adult patients aged 18-70 years, weighing 45-80kg, undergoing lung resection surgery under one lung ventilation. Patients who refuse to give consent, have egg allergy, bradyarrhythmias, respiratory or hepatorenal dysfunction, or are posted for bilateral resection of lung lesions, or pneumonectomy shall be excluded from the study. The study, spanning six months, shall be conducted at Rajiv Gandhi Cancer Institute and Research Centre. The patients shall be randomly allocated to two groups dexmedetomidine group (Group D; n = 30) and propofol group (Group P; n = 30). Our primary outcome measure would be the difference in arterial partial pressure of oxygen (PaO2) recorded at baseline, and PaO2 recorded 60 min after initiation of one-lung ventilation. Our secondary outcomes would be the PaO2, PaCO2, heart rate, mean arterial pressure, perfusion index, and dynamic compliance measured at specific time points (baseline, two lung ventilation just before one lung ventilation, 30 min, 60 min and 90 min after initiation of one lung ventilation, end surgery). Intraoperative cardiac and pulmonary complications, postoperative pulmonary complications and Clavien-Dindo major complications shall also be noted.