Effects of dexmedetomidine combined with butorphanol for sedation and analgesia on postoperative intracranial pressure in patients with severe traumatic brain injury
10.3760/cma.j.cn341190-20250324-00382
- VernacularTitle:右美托咪定联合布托啡诺镇静镇痛对重症颅脑损伤患者术后颅内压的影响
- Author:
Deqiang WANG
1
;
Lin LING
;
Wen WANG
;
Fenlian LIU
;
Jiayan HU
;
Fangbao HU
Author Information
1. 上海交通大学附属第六人民医院南院 上海市奉贤区中心医院重症医学科，上海 201499
- Publication Type:Journal Article
- Keywords:
Brain injuries, traumatic;
Intracranial pressure;
Butorphanol;
Analgesics,opioid;
Hypnotics and sedatives;
Neurosurgical procedures
- From:
Chinese Journal of Primary Medicine and Pharmacy
2025;32(11):1645-1650
- CountryChina
- Language:Chinese
-
Abstract:
Objective:To investigate the effects of dexmedetomidine combined with butorphanol for sedation and analgesia on postoperative intracranial pressure and prognosis in patients with severe traumatic brain injury.Methods:A prospective randomized controlled study was conducted on 60 patients with severe traumatic brain injury who were admitted to the ICU after emergency craniotomy surgery at the South Campus of Shanghai Sixth People's Hospital Affiliated to Shanghai Jiao Tong University from August 2020 to December 2023. The patients were randomly assigned to two groups: the control group (C group, n = 30) and the dexmedetomidine combined with butorphanol group (DB group, n = 30). Based on the treatment recommendations from the 2016 Guidelines for the Management of Severe Traumatic Brain Injury, the DB group received a combination of dexmedetomidine and buprenorphine for sedation and analgesia. Dexmedetomidine was administered via intravenous infusion at a loading dose of 1 μg/kg over 10 minutes, followed by a continuous infusion of 0.4-0.7 μg/kg per hour. Butorphanol was given with a loading dose of 10 μg/kg, followed by a continuous infusion of 10-20 μg/kg per hour. The infusion rate was adjusted to maintain a target Richmond Agitation-Sedation Scale (RASS) score of -3 to -4 to ensure adequate sedation. Patients in the C group received a continuous infusion of an equal amount of 0.9% sodium chloride injection. RASS scores were evaluated in both groups every 4 hours and maintained for 72 hours. The blood pressure, heart rate, central venous pressure, intracranial pressure, RASS sedation scores, and Numerical Verbal Pain Scale pain scores were observed at each time point: upon admission to the ICU (T 1) as well as 24 hours (T 2), 48 hours (T 3), and 72 hours (T 4) after surgery. The number of ventilator days, length of stay in the ICU, and Glasgow Outcome Scale prognosis score at discharge were recorded for all patients. Additionally, the incidence of adverse events such as secondary pulmonary infections, rebleeding, secondary surgeries, and death during hospitalization was recorded. Results:The mean arterial pressure ( F = 69.02, P < 0.001), heart rate ( F = 127.19, P < 0.001), and intracranial pressure ( F = 53.36, P < 0.001) in the DB group were significantly lower compared with those in the C group. The RASS scores ( F = 8.00, P = 0.006) and Numerical Verbal Pain Scale scores ( F = 420.02, P < 0.001) in the DB group were significantly lower than those in the C group. Central venous pressure in the DB group was significantly higher than that in the C group ( F = 6.34, P = 0.015). In terms of clinical outcomes, the mortality rate in the DB group was significantly lower than that in the C group ( χ2 = 4.36, P = 0.037), and the Glasgow Outcome Scale prognosis score was significantly higher in the DB group ( t = 3.03, P = 0.004). The number of ventilator days ( t = 6.10, P < 0.001) and the length of stay in the ICU ( t = 7.71, P < 0.001) were significantly shorter in the DB group compared with the C group (both P < 0.05). There were no statistically significant differences in the incidence of pulmonary infections, rebleeding events, or secondary surgeries between the two groups (all P > 0.05). Conclusions:The combination of dexmedetomidine and butorphanol can effectively decrease postoperative intracranial pressure in patients with severe traumatic brain injury and improve their prognosis.
