Impact of intraoperative dexmedetomidine on postoperative analgesia following gynecologic surgery

Abstract

Objective:

To assess the impact of intraoperative dexmedetomidine infusion on postoperative analgesia in women undergoing major open and laparoscopic gynecologic surgery under general anesthesia.

Research design and methods:

A retrospective analysis of patients who underwent major open and laparoscopic gynecologic surgery under general anesthesia from January 2007 to October 2008. Patients who received intraoperative opioids with a dexmedetomidine infusion were compared to those who received opioids alone. Patients who received regional anesthesia, remifentanil, or other analgesic adjuncts were excluded. Data were collected in the postanesthesia care unit (PACU) for all patients, and for 24 hours in the open group.

Results:

A total of 580 women were included in the analysis (293 open surgery [103 dexmedetomidine, 190 controls] and 287 laparoscopic surgery [101 dexmedetomidine, 186 controls]). In the open group, patients who received dexmedetomidine required less opioids intraoperatively and in PACU. However, there was no difference in the duration of PACU stay, opioid consumption from PACU discharge to 24 h or in the need for rescue antiemetics. Pain scores were not different in PACU. In the laparoscopic group, there was no difference between the groups in intraoperative or PACU opioids, pain scores, or need for rescue antiemetics. Patients in the dexmedetomidine laparoscopic group needed less inhaled agents intraoperatively, but stayed longer in PACU.

Conclusions:

Intraoperative dexmedetomidine infusion provided an opioid sparing effect intraoperatively and in PACU in women undergoing open gynecologic surgery but did not reduce the need for rescue antiemetics or the duration of PACU stay and did not provide any benefit beyond PACU discharge. For laparoscopic surgery, dexmedetomidine infusion did not provide any analgesic benefit. Limitations of the study include its retrospective non-randomized nature, absence of strict protocol for dexmedetomidine administration and lack of data beyond PACU discharge in patients having laparoscopic surgery.

Keywords::

• Dexmedetomidine
• Opioids
• Pain
• Postoperative analgesia

Transparency

Declaration of funding

This study was supported by Hospira, Inc. The sponsor was not involved with analysis of the data or with preparation of the manuscript.

Lauren A. McQueen-Shadfar

Sohair A. Megalla

William D. White

Adeyemi J. Olufolabi

Cheryl A. Jones

Ashraf S. Habib

Declaration of financial/other relationships

L.A.M.-S., S.A.M., W.D.W., A.J.O., C.A.J., and A.S.H. have disclosed that they have no significant relationships with or financial interests in any commercial companies related to this study or article.

Acknowledgment

This study was presented in part at the American Society of Anesthesiologists Meeting, San Diego, October 16–20, 2010.