Comparison of conventional dose and low dose infusion of dexmedetomidine on hemodynamic stress response, dose of induction agent and postoperative analgesia in patients undergoing laparoscopic cholecystectomy

Background and Aim: Anesthetic techniques are based on hemodynamic stability during anesthesia and surgery. Dexmedetomidine is centrally acting α2 agonist with sedative, sympatholytic and analgesic. Aim of this study was to compare effect of conventional dose with low dose infusion of dexmedetomidine on hemodynamic stress response, induction agent requirement & postoperative analgesia. Materials and methods: Single randomised prospective study done on 100 ASA Ι and ΙΙ patients aged 18-65 years scheduled for elective laparoscopy cholecystectomy under general anesthesia. Patients were divided in to two groups of 50 each, Group A: 1 µg/kg loading dose of dexmedetomidine I.V. started 15 min before procedure and infusion. 5 µg/kg/hr after induction and continued till end of surgery. Group B: 0.5 µg /kg/hr of dexmedetomidine I.V. started 15 min before procedure and continued till end of surgery. Results: Hemodynamic stability more in group B by avoiding complications like hypotension and bradycardia (p value < .05). Reduction of induction dose was more in group A than group B as compared to standard doses (P value <0.01). Hypotension and bradycardia were observed in 5 cases after 15 min of infusion in group A ( p value