Mapping Theme Trends and Research Frontiers in Dexmedetomidine Over Past Decade: A Bibliometric Analysis

Abstract

Background

Dexmedetomidine, an α₂-adrenergic receptor (α₂-AR) agonist, is extensively used in clinical and animal studies owing to its sedative, analgesic, and anxiolytic effects. The diverse range of research domains associated with dexmedetomidine poses challenges in defining pivotal research directions. Therefore, this study aimed to conduct a qualitative and quantitative bibliometric study in the field of dexmedetomidine over the past decade to establish current research trends and emerging frontiers.

Methods

Relevant publications in the field of dexmedetomidine between 2014 and 2023 were extracted from the Web of Science Core Collection database. The bibliometric analysis, incorporating statistical and visual analyses, was conducted using CiteSpace (6.1.R6) and R (4.3.1).

Results

The present study encompassed a total of 5,482 publications, exhibiting a consistent upward trend over the past decade. The United States and its institutions had the highest centrality. Ji, Fuhai, and Ebert, Thomas J. were identified as the most productive author and the most cited author, respectively. As anticipated, the most cited journal was Anesthesiology. Moreover, cluster analysis of cited references and co-occurrence of keywords revealed that recent studies were primarily focused on sedation, delirium, and opioid-free anesthesia. Finally, a timeline view of keywords clusters and keywords burst demonstrated that primary research frontiers were stress response, neuroinflammation, delirium, opioid-free anesthesia, peripheral nerve block, and complications.

Conclusion

Current research trends and directions are focused on sedation, delirium, and opioid-free anesthesia, as evidenced by our results. The frontier of future research is anticipated to encompass basic investigations into dexmedetomidine, including stress response and neuroinflammation, as well as clinical studies focusing on delirium, opioid-free anesthesia, peripheral nerve block, and associated complications.

Keywords:

• dexmedetomidine
• bibliometric analysis
• CiteSpace
• delirium
• opioid-free anesthesia

Data Sharing Statement

The datasets used or analyzed during the current study are available from the corresponding author on reasonable request.

Acknowledgments

The authors thank the software of Microsoft Excel, CiteSpace (6.1.R6), SCImago Graphica (1.0.36) (https://graphica.app/, “bibliometrix package” (https://www.bibliometrix.org) in R language (4.3.1), bibliometric online webpage (https://bibliometric.com), VOSviewer (1.6.19) and all the research assistants for their time and efforts in this study. The authors also thank Home for Researchers editorial team (www.home-for-researchers.com) for language editing service.

Author Contributions

All authors made a significant contribution to the work reported, whether that is in the conception, study design, execution, acquisition of data, analysis and interpretation, or in all these areas; took part in drafting, revising or critically reviewing the article; gave final approval of the version to be published; have agreed on the journal to which the article has been submitted; and agree to be accountable for all aspects of the work.

Disclosure

The authors declared no potential conflicts of interest with respect to the research, authorship, and/or publication of this article.

Additional information

Funding

This work was supported by the Shandong Provincial Key Research and Development Project (No. 2019GSF108193), Shandong Provincial Natural Science Foundation (No. ZR2021MH016), Analgesia and Sedation-Special Foundation for Anesthesia Optimization of Shandong Medical Association (No. YXH2021ZX040) and 2023 Qilu medical characteristics undergraduate education teaching research project-Shandong University (No. qlyxjy-202367).