OBJECTIVETo investigate the effect of dexmedetomidine on oxygenation function in adult patients with balanced anesthesia by propofol-fentanyl under one-lung ventilation (OLV).

METHODSTwenty-two patients undergoing thoracic operation were randomly divided into the study group and control group, both receiving propofol and fentanyl balanced anesthesia. In the study group, additional infusion of dexmedetomidine (0.3 µg/kg loading dose, 0.3 µg·kg(-1)·h(-1) maintenance dose) was administered, and the patients in the control group received only normal saline. Arterial blood samples were obtained at 4 time points from each patient during anesthesia for blood gas analysis.

RESULTSIn the study group, the pH values remained stable, the oxygenation index tended to decline progressively, but the incidence of hypoxemia was low; in the control group, the pH value and oxygenation index both declined progressively with a higher incidence of hypoxemia.

CONCLUSIONDexmedetomidine can better maintain the oxygenation function of OLV patients in balanced anesthesia by propofol and fentanyl, and its mechanism may be related to the decreased dose of propofol used.