Postoperative nausea and vomiting after thyroidectomy: a comparison between dexmedetomidine and remifentanil as part of balanced anesthesia.
10.4097/kjae.2017.70.3.299
- Author:
Eun Kyung CHOI
1
;
Yijun SEO
;
Dong Gun LIM
;
Sungsik PARK
Author Information
1. Department of Anesthesiology and Pain Medicine, Yeungnam University College of Medicine, Daegu, Korea.
- Publication Type:Original Article
- Keywords:
Dexmedetomidine;
Postoperative nausea and vomiting;
Remifentanil
- MeSH:
Adjuvants, Anesthesia;
Anesthesia;
Anesthesia, General;
Antiemetics;
Balanced Anesthesia*;
Dexmedetomidine*;
Hemodynamics;
Humans;
Incidence;
Pain, Postoperative;
Postoperative Nausea and Vomiting*;
Thyroidectomy*
- From:Korean Journal of Anesthesiology
2017;70(3):299-304
- CountryRepublic of Korea
- Language:English
-
Abstract:
BACKGROUND: Postoperative nausea and vomiting (PONV) is the major complication related to general anesthesia, occurring in 60–80% of patients after thyroidectomy. The objective of this study was to compare the effects of an intraoperative dexmedetomidine infusion with remifentanil, as anesthetic adjuvants of balanced anesthesia, on PONV in patients undergoing thyroidectomy. METHODS: Eighty patients scheduled for thyroidectomy were randomized into the following two groups: 1) The dexmedetomidine group (Group D), who received an initial loading dose of dexmedetomidine (1 µg/kg over 10 min) during the induction of anesthesia, followed by a continuous infusion at a rate of 0.3–0.5 µg/kg/h; 2) the remifentanil group (group R), who received remifentanil at an initial target effect site concentration of 4 ng/ml during the induction of anesthesia, followed by a target effect site concentration of 2–3 ng/ml. PONV was assessed during the first 24 hours in 2 time periods (0–2 h and 2–24 h). The pain intensity, sedation score, extubation time, and hemodynamics were also assessed. RESULTS: During the 2 time periods, the incidence and severity of PONV in group D were significantly lower than in group R. In addition, the need for rescue antiemetics was significantly lower in group D than in group R. The effect of dexmedetomidine on postoperative pain relief (2–24 h) was superior to that of remifentanil. The hemodynamics were similar in both groups, whereas eye opening and extubation time were delayed in group D. CONCLUSIONS: Adjuvant use of intraoperative dexmedetomidine infusion may be effective for the prevention of PONV.
