Perioperative Use of Ketamine Infusion vs Dexmedetomidine Infusion as Analgesic in Obese Patients Undergoing Bariatric Surgery

The surgeries that involve treatment of morbid obesity, i.e. bypass procedure and sleeve gastrectomy, are collectively covered under the term 'bariatric surgery'. The frequency of bariatric surgery has been increasing worldwide for patients with medically complicated obesity who have difficulty losing weight by other methods

The growth of bariatric surgery is accompanied with development of anesthetic techniques to maintain patient safety and improve outcome. Treatment with narcotics in obese patients has dual effect. Increased use of narcotics are associated with multiple complications including Postoperative Nausea and Vomiting (PONV) , respiratory depression and elevated risk of Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA) complications . On the other hand, the reduction in opioid use may result in acute post-operative pain that may limit post-surgery rehabilitation. Therefore, we need to minimize opioid use and employ some other drugs which, besides having analgesia, has an opioid-sparing effect also.

Ketamine, an N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptor antagonist, has analgesic properties in sub-anesthetic doses. When used in low dose (0.3 to 0.5 mg/kg) by ideal body weight, it is an analgesic, anti-hyperalgesic, and prevents development of opioid tolerance.

Dexmedetomidine is selective α2-Adrenoceptor agonist that has been used as an adjuvant to anesthetic agents in perioperative period for several adventitious profile as well as tolerated side effects . While dexmedetomidine is emerging as a beneficial adjunct to the analgesic regimen in the perioperative period, its utilization is not routinely widespread .