title: Dexmedetomidine sedation for carotid endarterectomy.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  General anaesthesia and deep sedation during endarterectomy exclude direct contact with the patient, required for safe performance of the surgery. The aim of the study was to assess sedation with dexmedetomidine and its cardiovascular effects.
  
  
  METHODS
  Sixty-four adult patients, scheduled on internal carotid artery surgery under infiltration analgesia, were randomly divided to receive dexmedetomidine in the loading dose of 1 microg kg(-1) over 10 min, followed by 0.2 microg kg(-1) h(-1) continuous infusion (group D) or placebo (group P).The BIS score, heart rate (HR) and mean arterial pressure (MAP) were noted.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In the group D, during carotid artery clamping (CAC) mean BIS scores were lower, compared to the baseline and to the values recorded in the group P. The BIS scores in the group P did not differ from baseline. In the group D, we did not observe cardiovascular reactions that could be attributed to CAC; in the group P, MAP and HR increased during CAC, and returned to normal 10 min after clamp release. Significant decrease of HR was observed after 12 min of dexmedetomidine infusion, at 10 and 15 min after CAC in group D. Urapidil and fentanyl were administered more often in the placebo group.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The 0.2 microg kg(-1) h(-1) dexmedetomidine infusion, administered during carotid endarterectomy, secured cardiovascular stability and reduced the need for additional analgesia.
authors.affiliation: Department of Anaesthesiology and Intensive Therapy, Medical University of Gdańsk. sidor@amg.gda.pl
authors.forename: Magdalena
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Sidorowicz
authors.forename: Radosław
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Owczuk
authors.forename: Barbara
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Kwiecińska
authors.forename: Magdalena A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Wujtewicz
authors.forename: Jacek
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Wojciechowski
authors.forename: Maria
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Wujtewicz
mesh_terms: D000759:Adjuvants, Anesthesia / Q000008:administration & dosage; D000368:Aged; D018686:Anesthetics, Intravenous; D020927:Dexmedetomidine / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D016894:Endarterectomy, Carotid / Q000379:methods*; D004809:Ephedrine / Q000008:administration & dosage; D005260:Female; D005283:Fentanyl / Q000008:administration & dosage; D006439:Hemodynamics / Q000187:drug effects*; D006801:Humans; D006993:Hypnotics and Sedatives / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D007262:Infusions, Intravenous; D008297:Male; D008614:Meperidine / Q000008:administration & dosage; D010879:Piperazines / Q000008:administration & dosage; D011292:Premedication
chemical_list: D000759:Adjuvants, Anesthesia; D018686:Anesthetics, Intravenous; D006993:Hypnotics and Sedatives; D010879:Piperazines; D020927:Dexmedetomidine; D008614:Meperidine; C015568:urapidil; D004809:Ephedrine; D005283:Fentanyl