title: Laparoscopic appendectomy under spinal anesthesia with dexmedetomidine infusion.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Laparoscopic appendectomy (LA) is rarely performed under regional anesthesia because of pneumoperitoneum-related problems. We expected that dexmedetomidine would compensate for the problems arising from spinal anesthesia alone. Thus, we performed a feasibility study of spinal anesthesia with intravenous dexmedetomidine infusion.
  
  
  METHODS
  Twenty-six patients undergoing LA received spinal anesthesia with intravenous dexmedetomidine infusion. During surgery, the patient's pain or discomfort was controlled by supplemental fentanyl or ketamine injection, and all adverse effects were evaluated.
  
  
  RESULTS
  No patient required conversion to general anesthesia, and all operations were completed laparoscopically without conversion to open surgery. Seventeen (65.4%) patients required supplemental injection of fentanyl or ketamine. Bradycardia occurred in seven (26.9%) patients.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Spinal anesthesia with dexmedetomidine infusion may be feasible for LA. However, additional analgesia, sedation, and careful attention to the potential development of bradycardia are needed for a successful anesthetic outcome.
authors.affiliation: Department of Anesthesiology and Pain Medicine, Konyang University Hospital, Konyang University College of Medicine, Daejeon, Korea.
authors.forename: Go-Woon
authors.initials: GW
authors.lastname: Jun
authors.affiliation: Department of Anesthesiology and Pain Medicine, Konyang University Hospital, Konyang University College of Medicine, Daejeon, Korea.
authors.forename: Min-Su
authors.initials: MS
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.affiliation: Department of Anesthesiology and Pain Medicine, Konyang University Hospital, Konyang University College of Medicine, Daejeon, Korea.
authors.forename: Hun-Ju
authors.initials: HJ
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.affiliation: Department of Anesthesiology and Pain Medicine, Konyang University Hospital, Konyang University College of Medicine, Daejeon, Korea.
authors.forename: Tae-Yun
authors.initials: TY
authors.lastname: Sung
authors.affiliation: Department of Anesthesiology and Pain Medicine, Konyang University Hospital, Konyang University College of Medicine, Daejeon, Korea.
authors.forename: Dong-Ho
authors.initials: DH
authors.lastname: Park
authors.affiliation: Department of Anesthesiology and Pain Medicine, Konyang University Hospital, Konyang University College of Medicine, Daejeon, Korea.
authors.forename: Choon-Kyu
authors.initials: CK
authors.lastname: Cho
authors.affiliation: Department of Anesthesiology and Pain Medicine, Konyang University Hospital, Konyang University College of Medicine, Daejeon, Korea.
authors.forename: Hee-Uk
authors.initials: HU
authors.lastname: Kwon
authors.affiliation: Department of Anesthesiology and Pain Medicine, Konyang University Hospital, Konyang University College of Medicine, Daejeon, Korea.
authors.forename: Po-Soon
authors.initials: PS
authors.lastname: Kang
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, Konyang University Hospital, Konyang University College of Medicine, Daejeon, Korea.
authors.forename: Ju-Ik
authors.initials: JI
authors.lastname: Moon
keywords: Dexmedetomidine; Laparoscopic appendectomy; Spinal anesthesia