Opioid-free Anesthesia for Craniotomy in Supratentorial Tumors: An Open-labeled Single-blinded Randomized Controlled...

Area of Science:

• Anesthesiology
• Neurosurgery
• Pain Management

Background:

• Opioid-free anesthesia (OFA) may offer advantages over traditional opioid-based approaches.
• Investigating OFA as an alternative for supratentorial brain tumor surgery is crucial.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the efficacy of OFA compared to opioid-based anesthesia.
• Assessing OFA's impact on recovery and complications in brain tumor surgery.

Main Methods:

• Randomized trial comparing dexmedetomidine (OFA) with fentanyl (opioid-based) in adult patients undergoing elective craniotomy.
• Primary outcomes: emergence and extubation times. Secondary outcomes: hemodynamic stability, pain scores, analgesic use, and complications.

Main Results:

• Emergence and extubation times were comparable between the dexmedetomidine and fentanyl groups.
• Dexmedetomidine group showed improved hemodynamic stability during critical surgical phases.
• Postoperative pain scores were similar, with lower Numerical Rating Scale in the dexmedetomidine group at 12 hours.

Conclusions:

• OFA using dexmedetomidine may enhance hemodynamic stability and postoperative pain management.
• OFA appears to be a viable alternative for supratentorial brain tumor surgery, maintaining similar recovery times.