Efficacy and safety of dexmedetomidine versus propofol for the sedation of tube-retention after oral maxillofacial surgery.
OBJECTIVE
To compare the safety and efficacy of sedation induced by dexmedetomidine and propofol after oral and maxillofacial surgery.


METHODS
In this trial, 66 patients 18 to 50 years old received oral and maxillofacial surgery and required postoperative nasal endotracheal intubation under overnight sedation with dexmedetomidine or propofol. The dexmedetomidine group (group D) received dexmedetomidine 1.0 μg/kg intravenously for 10 minutes after entering the recovery room. The dose was maintained by giving an intravenous injection of dexmedetomidine 0.4 μg/kg. The injection rate could be modulated from 0.2 to 0.7 μg/kg/hour in the intensive care unit (ICU). If the Ramsay score was lower than 2 and involuntary limb movement occurred, other sedatives were used. The propofol group (group P) was given propofol 0.1 mg/kg intravenously for 10 minutes after entering the recovery room and then maintained with intravenous injections of propofol 1 to 2 mg/kg/hour in the recovery room and ICU.


RESULTS
The oxygen desaturation of group P was higher than that of group D (at the first sedation time of 30 minutes), but the mean blood pressure of group P was significantly lower than that of group D at the 10-minute time point. The Ramsay score was higher in group D after the first 3 hours of sedation than in group P (P < .05).


CONCLUSIONS
Dexmedetomidine showed similar safety and efficacy as propofol and could be used for tube-retaining sedation after oral and maxillofacial surgery.
Attending, Department of Anesthesiology, Shanghai Ninth People's Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China.
Jie
J
Chen
Attending, Department of Anesthesiology, Shanghai Ninth People's Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China.
Jia-qian
JQ
Zhou
Professor, Department of Anesthesiology, Shanghai Ninth People's Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China.
Zhi-feng
ZF
Chen
Professor, Department of Anesthesiology, Shanghai Ninth People's Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China.
Yan
Y
Huang
Professor, Department of Anesthesiology, Shanghai Ninth People's Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China. Electronic address: dr.jianghong@yahoo.com.cn.
Hong
H
Jiang
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000762:Anesthesia Recovery Period; D001794:Blood Pressure; D016292:Procedural Sedation / Q000379:methods*; D020927:Dexmedetomidine / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D006801:Humans; D006993:Hypnotics and Sedatives / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D000860:Hypoxia; D007275:Injections, Intravenous; D007442:Intubation, Intratracheal; D008875:Middle Aged; D019647:Oral Surgical Procedures; D015742:Propofol / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D055815:Young Adult
D006993:Hypnotics and Sedatives; D020927:Dexmedetomidine; D015742:Propofol