title: [Effect of dexmedetomidine on anesthetic requirements in cardiovascular surgery].
abstract: BACKGROUND
  An anesthetic-sparing effect of dexmedetomidine has been shown in several studies. We investigated the effect of dexmedetomidine on anesthetic requirements in 24 patients undergoing cardiovascular surgery.
  
  
  METHODS
  Patients were randomly divided into two groups in which continuous infusion of dexmedetomidine was started before induction of anesthesia (DEX group, n = 12) or when closing the sternum (control group, n = 12). Dexmedetomidine was administered intravenously at 0.7 microg x kg(-1) x hr(-1) after a bolus infusion at 6.0 microg x kg(-1) x hr(-1) for 10 min. All patients received total intravenous anesthesia with propofol and fentanyl.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Mean effect-site concentration of propofol was significantly lower in the DEX group than in the control group (1.9 +/- 0.3 microg x ml(-1) vs 2.5 +/- 0.8 microg x ml(-1)). Mean effect-site concentration of fentanyl in the DEX group was significantly lower than that in the control group (1.93 +/- 0.41 ng x ml(-1) vs 2.67 +/- 0.70 ng x ml(-1).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The combined use of dexmedetomidine decreases anesthetic requirements in cardiovascular surgery.
authors.affiliation: Department of Anesthesia, National Obihiro Hospital, Obihiro 080-8518.
authors.forename: Hirotsugu
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Kanda
authors.forename: Takayuki
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Kunisawa
authors.forename: Atsushi
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Kurosawa
authors.forename: Michio
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Nagashima
authors.forename: Akihiro
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Suzuki
authors.forename: Osamu
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Takahata
authors.forename: Hiroshi
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Iwasaki
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000771:Anesthesia, Intravenous; D018686:Anesthetics, Intravenous / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D013504:Cardiovascular Surgical Procedures; D020927:Dexmedetomidine / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D005260:Female; D005283:Fentanyl / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D006801:Humans; D006993:Hypnotics and Sedatives / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D007262:Infusions, Intravenous; D008297:Male; D015742:Propofol / Q000008:administration & dosage*
chemical_list: D018686:Anesthetics, Intravenous; D006993:Hypnotics and Sedatives; D020927:Dexmedetomidine; D005283:Fentanyl; D015742:Propofol