Hemodynamic and respiratory changes following dexmedetomidine administration during general anesthesia: sevoflurane...

The current study evaluates the hemodynamic and respiratory effects of dexmedetomidine (DEX) when administered to children anesthetized with sevoflurane (SEVO) or desflurane (DES).

After tracheal intubation and spontaneous ventilation, DEX (0.5 microg x kg(-1)) was administered over 5 min. Heart rate (HR), systolic blood pressure (sBP), diastolic blood pressure (dBP), and endtidal carbon dioxide (P(E)CO(2)) were monitored and recorded prior to DEX (time 0) and again at 5, 10, and 15 min after DEX.

The cohort included 80 children (1-12 years of age) anesthetized with SEVO (n = 40) or DES (n = 40). The lowest HR from time 0 to time 15 was less in patients anesthetized with SEVO compared with DES (104 +/- 16 b x min(-1) in the SEVO/DEX group vs 120 +/- 17 b x min(-1) in the DES/DEX group, < 0.01). Although both sBP and dBP decreased following the administration of DEX to patients anesthetized with either SEVO or DES, there was no difference in sBP or dBP between the two groups. Likewise, no evidence was found for changes in the P(E)CO(2) during the study period.

The administration of DEX (0.5 microg x kg(-1)) results in a lower HR in patients anesthetized with SEVO compared with DES. No evidence was found for differences in sBP, dBP, or P(E)CO(2) during spontaneous ventilation with 1 MAC of SEVO vs DES.