title: The efficacy and hemodynamic response to Dexmedetomidine as a hypotensive agent in posterior fixation surgery following traumatic spine injury.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  This study was designed to evaluate the efficacy of dexmedetomidine (DEX) as a hypotensive agent in comparison to nitroglycerin (NTG) in posterior fixation surgery for traumatic spine injury.
  
  
  METHODS
  Forty patients ASA I or II aged 18-65 years scheduled for posterior fixation surgery were randomly assigned to receive either DEX 1 μg/kg over 10 min before induction of anesthesia followed by 0.2-0.7 μg/kg/h infusion during maintenance in DEX group or NTG 3-5 μg/kg/min infusion after induction of anesthesia in NTG group to maintain mean arterial blood pressure (MAP) between 65 and 70 mmHg. The two groups were compared for achievement of target MAP, intraoperative blood loss, and reversibility of hypotensive state. Student's t-test was used for continuous variables and chi-square test for categorical variables. P-value < 0.05 was considered significant.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Patients in DEX group achieved the target MAP with better heart rate (HR) control, as compared to NTG group during the period of observation. The blood loss was significantly lesser in the DEX group (422.11 ± 149.34 ml) than the NTG group (564.51 ± 160.88 ml), P = 0.01. The time to hypotension reversal in NTG group (5.63 ± 1.93 min) was lesser compared to DEX group (9.15 ± 2.16 min), P = 0.65.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  DEX is an effective and safe agent in achieving controlled hypotension in adults undergoing posterior fixation spine surgery.
authors.affiliation: Department of Anesthesiology, Byramjee Jeejeebhoy Medical College (B.J.M.C), Ahmedabad, Gujarat, India.
authors.forename: Ramila H
authors.initials: RH
authors.lastname: Jamaliya
authors.affiliation: Department of Anesthesiology, Byramjee Jeejeebhoy Medical College (B.J.M.C), Ahmedabad, Gujarat, India.
authors.forename: Rajesh
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Chinnachamy
authors.affiliation: Department of Anesthesiology, Byramjee Jeejeebhoy Medical College (B.J.M.C), Ahmedabad, Gujarat, India.
authors.forename: Jyotsna
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Maliwad
authors.affiliation: Department of Anesthesiology, Byramjee Jeejeebhoy Medical College (B.J.M.C), Ahmedabad, Gujarat, India.
authors.forename: Varun P
authors.initials: VP
authors.lastname: Deshmukh
authors.affiliation: Department of Anesthesiology, Byramjee Jeejeebhoy Medical College (B.J.M.C), Ahmedabad, Gujarat, India.
authors.forename: Bharat J
authors.initials: BJ
authors.lastname: Shah
authors.affiliation: Department of Anesthesiology, Byramjee Jeejeebhoy Medical College (B.J.M.C), Ahmedabad, Gujarat, India.
authors.forename: Indu A
authors.initials: IA
authors.lastname: Chadha
keywords: controlled hypotension; dexmedetomidine; spine surgery; α2-agonist