Emergence agitation is common after nasal surgery. We investigated the effects of intraoperative dexmedetomidine infusion on emergence agitation and quality of recovery after nasal surgery in adult patients. One hundred patients undergoing nasal surgery were randomized into two groups. The dexmedetomidine group (Group D, n=50) received dexmedetomidine infusion at a rate of 0.4 μg kg(-1) h(-1) from induction of anaesthesia until extubation, while the control group (Group C, n=50) received volume-matched normal saline infusion as placebo. Propofol (1.5-2 mg kg(-1)) and fentanyl (1 μg kg(-1)) were used for induction of anaesthesia, and desflurane was used for maintenance of anaesthesia. The incidence of agitation, haemodynamic parameters, and recovery characteristics were evaluated during emergence. A 40-item quality-of-recovery questionnaire (QoR-40) was provided to patients 24 h after surgery. The incidence of agitation was lower in Group D than Group C (28 vs 52%, P=0.014). Mean arterial pressure and heart rate were more stable in Group D than in Group C during emergence (P<0.05). Time to extubation, bispectral index, and respiratory rate at extubation were similar between the groups. Global QoR-40 score at 24 h after surgery was higher in Group D (median [range], 183 [146 -198]) compared with Group C (178 [133-196]) (P=0.041). Intraoperative infusion of dexmedetomidine provided smooth and haemodynamically stable emergence. It also improved quality of recovery after nasal surgery.

Kim J, et al. Yonsei Med J. 2014 Mar;55(2):508-516. https://doi.org/10.3349/ymj.2014.55.2.508