Has Time Come to Frame Clinical Practice Guidelines Recommending Dexmedetomidine as a Routine Adjuvant Agent in Balanced General Anesthesia Technique?

In today's era of scientific research, recommendation through evidence based practice guidelines has got major impact on best clinical practice. Over the last decade or so Dexmedetomidine the selective alpha two agonist has contributed significantly to the practice of anaesthesia and Perioperative medicine. Though it has been used for various purposes the maximum uses and benefits have been related to general anaesthesia. In spite of plethora of Literature suggesting its positive role played during general anaesthesia, it is yet to be recommended as a routine adjunctive agent for balanced anaesthesia technique. Hence this review focuses on its different pharmacodynamic as well as pharmacokinetic properties attributing to its major advantages & few disadvantages during pre-operative, intra operative as well as postoperative period related to general anaesthesia. It also analyses the adequacy of scientific evidences raising the possibility of recommending Dexmedetomidine as a routine adjunct to balanced anaesthesia technique during framing of clinical practice guideline.