title: Safety and Efficacy of Dexmedetomidine as a Sedative Agent for Performing Awake Intubation: A Meta-analysis.
abstract: To compare the efficacy and safety of dexmedetomidine with other alternative sedative agents used for performing awake intubation. We conducted a meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials (RCTs) that compared the effects of dexmedetomidine with other alternative sedative agents used during awake intubation. The biomedical databases PubMed, Science Direct, and the Cochrane Library were searched for relevant RCTs with no restriction on the language of publication. The efficacy (level of sedation, success rate for intubation at the first attempt, intubation time, intubation conditions, and patient satisfaction) and safety (incidence of hypertension, hypotension, tachycardia, bradycardia, hypoxia, postsurgical memory, hoarseness, and sore throat) were assessed. Thirteen RCTs with a combined subject population of 591 patients came within the purview of this meta-analysis. Use of dexmedetomidine was associated with a higher Ramsay sedation scale score [mean difference (MD): 1.02, 95% confidence interval (CI), 0.77-1.28, P < 0.00001], vocal cord movement score (MD = 0.72, 95% CI, 0.20-1.24, P = 0.007), coughing scores (MD = 0.66, 95% CI, 0.10-1.22, P = 0.02), limb movement scores (MD = 0.69, 95% CI, 0.47-0.91, P < 0.00001); increased risk of bradycardia [relative risk (RR): 3.03, 95% CI, 1.38-6.68, P = 0.006] and hypotension (RR: 2.87, 95% CI, 1.44-5.75, P = 0.003); and lower risk of hypoxia (RR: 0.32, 95% CI, 0.15-0.70; P = 0.004) and postsurgical memory (RR: 0.50, 95% CI, 0.35-0.72, P = 0.0002). As indicated by our results, dexmedetomidine appears to be an effective and well-tolerated agent for performing awake intubation. Its use was associated with better intubation conditions, preservation of airway patency, and reduced recall of intubation, as compared with the traditional sedative agents. The risk of bradycardia and hypotension was significantly higher with dexmedetomidine as compared with that with other sedatives. However, these were easily managed with atropine and vasoactive agents.
authors.affiliation: 1Department of Social Medicine and Health Service Management, Public Health School of Central South University, Changsha, China; and Departments of 2Scientific Research and 3Anesthesiology, Clinical Medical School of Yangzhou University, Subei People's Hospital of Jiangsu Province,Yangzhou, China.
authors.forename: Luo-Jing
authors.initials: LJ
authors.lastname: Zhou
authors.forename: Xiang-Zhi
authors.initials: XZ
authors.lastname: Fang
authors.forename: Ju
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Gao
authors.forename: Yang
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Zhangm
authors.forename: Li-Jian
authors.initials: LJ
authors.lastname: Tao
mesh_terms: D001919:Bradycardia / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000453:epidemiology; D020927:Dexmedetomidine / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects; D006801:Humans; D006993:Hypnotics and Sedatives / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects; D007022:Hypotension / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000453:epidemiology; D007442:Intubation, Intratracheal / Q000379:methods*; D016032:Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic; D014851:Wakefulness
chemical_list: D006993:Hypnotics and Sedatives; D020927:Dexmedetomidine