Does the Use of Dexmedetomidine for Premedication Provide Hemodynamic Stability in Hypertensive Patients?

A total of 140 female patients, aged 40-60, normotensive or stage 1-2 hypertensive, scheduled for myomectomy or hysterectomy were randomly enrolled to 4 groups: Group ND (normotensive-dexmedetomidine); Group HD (hypertensive-dexmedetomidine); group NM (normotensive-midazolam); Group HM (hypertensive- midazolam). Twenty-one patients were excluded. The study drugs were administered 15 min before induction of anesthesia via intravenous infusion. Group ND (N= 29) received dexmedetomidine 0.5 µg.kg-1 in normotensive patient; Group HD (N= 30) received dexmedetomidine 0.5 µg.kg-1 in hypertensive patient; group NM (N= 30) received midazolam 0.025 mg. kg-1 in normotensive patient; Group HM (N= 30) received midazolam 0.025 mg. kg-1 in hypertensive patient. The study drugs was prepared by the anesthetist not included in the study in unlabeled syringes that determined by computer according to the group. The investigators and attending anesthesiologists were blinded to the randomization. Monitoring devices included noninvasive arterial blood pressure, electrocardiography, capnography, pulse oximetry and bispectral index.

For induction of anesthesia with fentanyl 1 µg. kg-1 IV and propofol infusion was in the presence of BIS monitoring. Propofol infusion was stopped when BIS value was 60. Endotracheal intubation was performed after rocuronium 0.6 mg. kg-1 iv administered, Anesthesia was maintained with sevoflurane in air/oxygen 50:50 mixture, titrated to achieve a BIS value between 40 and 60. If the MBP value was increased > 25% of the baseline value on two consecutive readings within 2-3 min, antihypertensive therapy was administered (nitroglycerine 5 µg.min-1 iv infusion) after excluded possible cause ( inadequate anesthesia, hypoxia, hypercapnia etc). Bradycardia ( HR< 45 beat/min) persisting for > 2 min was treated with atropine 0.5 mg IV, boluses. At the end of the surgery sevoflurane turned off, and 100% oxygen was administered. Tramadol 1 mg.kg-1 IV was administered for postoperative pain control. Neuromuscular block was antagonized with neostigmine (0.04 mg.kg-1 IV) and atropine (0.01 mg.kg-1 IV). Tracheal extubation was performed when obeying simple commands (open eye, squeeze hand etc) Systolic blood pressure (SBP), diastolic blood pressure ( DBP), mean blood pressure ( MBP) and heart rate ( HR) were recorded at several times as follows: baseline (T0 ), 5 minutes after administration of study drugs (T1), 10 minutes after administration of study drugs (T2), immediately after induction (T3), 1 minute after intubation (T4), 5 minute after intubation (T5), at surgical incision (T6), 15 minutes after surgical incision (T7), 30 minutes after surgical incision (T8), 1 minute after extubation (T9), 5 minute after extubation (T10). Propofol amount for induction, time between induction and initial surgery, demand of antihypertensive therapy, rescue atropine were recorded. Side effects (bradycardia, dryness of the mouth, respiratory depression) were evaluated.

The group sizes (N= 30) were calculated to detect a 25% changes in MBP value with a power of 80% and a significance level of 0.05. Quantitative clinical and demographic characteristics were compared using One Way ANOVA. Chi-square tests (Likelihood ratio or Pearson) were used to examine the relationships between categorical demographic data and groups. Baseline measurements of hemodynamic parameters showed significant differences between groups for the initial values of the measurement period values have been adjusted by subtracting the beginning. The values obtained after the correction in respect of groups were compared using one-way analysis of variance. In addition, perioperative use of antihypertensive drugs that affect the measurements were evaluated by analysis of co-variance, but there is not significant effect was removed from the model. Additionally periodic variations were examined by One way Repeated Measures Analysis of Variance for groups separately, and a significance level of 0.05.