title: The effects of intra-operative dexmedetomidine on postoperative pain, side-effects and recovery in colorectal surgery.
abstract: In this double-blind, randomised study, 100 patients undergoing open or conventional laparoscopic colorectal surgery received an intra-operative loading dose of dexmedetomidine 1 μg.kg(-1) followed by an infusion of 0.5 μg.kg(-1) .h(-1) , or a bolus and infusion of saline 0.9% of equivalent volume. Forty-six patients in the dexmedetomidine group and 50 in the saline group completed the study. The area under the curve of numerical rating scores for pain at rest for 1-48 h postoperatively was significantly lower in the patients receiving dexmedetomidine (p = 0.041). There was no difference in morphine consumption, duration of recovery ward or hospital stay. From the data obtained in this study, we calculated a number needed to treat for effective pain relief of 4. Intra-operative dexmedetomidine in colorectal surgery resulted in a reduction in resting pain scores, but there was no morphine-sparing effect or improvement in patients' recovery outcome measures.
authors.affiliation: Laboratory and Clinical Research Institute for Pain, Department of Anaesthesiology, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China.
authors.forename: C W
authors.initials: CW
authors.lastname: Cheung
authors.forename: Q
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: Qiu
authors.forename: A C L
authors.initials: AC
authors.lastname: Ying
authors.forename: S W
authors.initials: SW
authors.lastname: Choi
authors.forename: W L
authors.initials: WL
authors.lastname: Law
authors.forename: M G
authors.initials: MG
authors.lastname: Irwin
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D018712:Analgesics, Non-Narcotic / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D003106:Colon / Q000601:surgery*; D020927:Dexmedetomidine / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007432:Intraoperative Period; D010535:Laparoscopy; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009020:Morphine / Q000008:administration & dosage; D010149:Postoperative Pain / Q000188:drug therapy*; D012007:Rectum / Q000601:surgery*
chemical_list: D018712:Analgesics, Non-Narcotic; D020927:Dexmedetomidine; D009020:Morphine