A comparative study of esmolol and dexmedetomidine on hemodynamic responses to carbon dioxide pneumoperitoneum during...

Carbon dioxide pneumoperitoneum for laparoscopic surgery increases arterial pressures, heart rate (HR), and systemic vascular resistance. In this randomized, single-blind, placebo-controlled clinical study, we investigated and compared the efficacy of esmolol and dexmedetomidine to provide perioperative hemodynamic stability in patients undergoing laparoscopic cholecystectomy.

Sixty patients, of either sex undergoing elective laparoscopic cholecystectomy, were randomly allocated into three groups containing twenty patients each. Group E received bolus dose of 500 μg/kg intravenous (IV) esmolol before pneumoperitoneum followed by an infusion of 100 μg/kg/min. Group D received bolus dose of 1 μg/kg IV dexmedetomidine before pneumoperitoneum followed by infusion of 0.2 μg/kg/h. Group S (control) received saline 0.9%.

Mean arterial pressure and HR in Group E and D were significantly less throughout the period of pneumoperitoneum in comparison to Group S. IV nitroglycerine was required in 45% (9 out of 20) patients in Group S to control intraoperative hypertension, and it was clinically significant in comparison to Group E and D.

Both esmolol and dexmedetomidine attenuate the adverse hemodynamic response to pneumoperitoneum and provide hemodynamic stability during laparoscopic surgery.