Effectiveness of dexmedetomidine for emergence agitation in infants undergoing palatoplasty: a randomized controlled trial / Eficácia de dexmedetomidina para o surgimento de agitação em lactentes submetidos à palatoplastia: estudo clínico randomizado

OBJECTIVES: In infants, there is a high incidence of emergence agitation (EA) after sevoflurane (Sev) anesthesia. This study aimed to test the hypothesis that dexmedetomidine (Dex) administration would reduce the incidence and severity of EA after Sev-based anesthesia in infants undergoing palatoplasty. METHODS: A prospective randomized clinical trial was conducted with 70 patients undergoing palatoplasty, aged 10-14 months. Infants were randomly allocated into two groups: Dex (n = 35) and saline (n = 35). In the Dex group, Dex (6 µg/kg/h) was administered approximately 10 min before the end of the surgery for 10 min, followed by 0.4 µg/kg/h until 5 min after extubation. In the saline group, an equivalent amount of saline was administered in a similar manner. After the surgery, patients were transferred to the postanesthetic care unit (PACU). The infant's behavior and pain were assessed with scoring system for EA (5-point rating scale) and pain scale (PS; 10-point rating scale), respectively. EA and PS were estimated at six time points (after extubation, leaving the operating room, 0, 30, 60, and 120 min after arrival in PACU). RESULTS: EA and PS scores were significantly lower in the Dex group than in the saline group from extubation to 120 min after arrival in PACU. CONCLUSIONS: Dex administration has the advantage of a reduced EA and PS without any adverse effects. Dex provided satisfactory recovery in infants undergoing palatoplasty.

OBJETIVOS: Em crianças, é elevada a incidência de surgimento de agitação (SA) em seguida à anestesia com sevoflurano (Sev). Este estudo teve como objetivo testar a hipótese de que a administração de dexmedetomidina (Dex) reduziria a incidência e a gravidade do SA após anestesia com Sev em lactentes submetidos à palatoplastia. MÉTODOS: Estudo clínico prospectivo randomizado, feito com 70 pacientes submetidos a uma palatoplastia, com 10-14 meses. As crianças foram divididas randomicamente em dois grupos: Dex (n = 35) e solução salina (n = 35). No grupo de Dex, Dex (6 µg/kg/h) foi administrada cerca de 10 minutos antes do fim da cirurgia durante 10 minutos, seguida de 0,4 µg/kg/h até 5 minutos após a extubação. No grupo de solução salina, uma quantidade equivalente de salina foi administrada com o mesmo esquema de dosagem. Após a cirurgia, os pacientes foram transferidos para a unidade de cuidados pós-anestésicos (UCPA). O comportamento e a dor dos bebês foram avaliados com um sistema de pontuação para SA (escala de classificação de 5 pontos) e com uma escala de dor (ED; escala de classificação de 10 pontos), respectivamente. SA e ED foram estimados em seis pontos cronológicos (após a extubação, ao deixar a sala de cirurgia e 0, 30, 60 e 120 minutos após a chegada à UCPA). RESULTADOS: Os escores SA e ED foram significativamente menores no grupo Dex versus grupo salina, desde a extubação até 120 minutos após a chegada à UCPA. CONCLUSÕES: A administração de Dex tem a vantagem de uma redução no SA e na ED, sem quaisquer efeitos adversos. Dex proporcionou uma recuperação satisfatória em lactentes submetidos à palatoplastia.

Effectiveness of dexmedetomidine for emergence agitation in infants undergoing palatoplasty: a randomized controlled trial.

OBJECTIVES: In infants, there is a high incidence of emergence agitation (EA) after sevoflurane (Sev) anesthesia. This study aimed to test the hypothesis that dexmedetomidine (Dex) administration would reduce the incidence and severity of EA after Sev-based anesthesia in infants undergoing palatoplasty. METHODS: A prospective randomized clinical trial was conducted with 70 patients undergoing palatoplasty, aged 10-14 months. Infants were randomly allocated into two groups: Dex (n=35) and saline (n=35). In the Dex group, Dex (6 µg/kg/h) was administered approximately 10 min before the end of the surgery for 10 min, followed by 0.4 µg/kg/h until 5 min after extubation. In the saline group, an equivalent amount of saline was administered in a similar manner. After the surgery, patients were transferred to the postanesthetic care unit (PACU). The infant's behavior and pain were assessed with scoring system for EA (5-point rating scale) and pain scale (PS; 10-point rating scale), respectively. EA and PS were estimated at six time points (after extubation, leaving the operating room, 0, 30, 60, and 120 min after arrival in PACU). RESULTS: EA and PS scores were significantly lower in the Dex group than in the saline group from extubation to 120 min after arrival in PACU. CONCLUSIONS: Dex administration has the advantage of a reduced EA and PS without any adverse effects. Dex provided satisfactory recovery in infants undergoing palatoplasty.

[Effectiveness of dexmedetomidine for emergence agitation in infants undergoing palatoplasty: a randomized controlled trial]. / Eficácia de dexmedetomidina para o surgimento de agitação em lactentes submetidos à palatoplastia: estudo clínico randomizado.

OBJECTIVES: In infants, there is a high incidence of emergence agitation (EA) after sevoflurane (Sev) anesthesia. This study aimed to test the hypothesis that dexmedetomidine (Dex) administration would reduce the incidence and severity of EA after Sev-based anesthesia in infants undergoing palatoplasty. METHODS: A prospective randomized clinical trial was conducted with 70 patients undergoing palatoplasty, aged 10-14 months. Infants were randomly allocated into two groups: Dex (n=35) and saline (n=35). In the Dex group, Dex (6µg/kg/h) was administered approximately 10min before the end of the surgery for 10min, followed by 0.4µg/kg/h until 5min after extubation. In the saline group, an equivalent amount of saline was administered in a similar manner. After the surgery, patients were transferred to the postanesthetic care unit (PACU). The infant's behavior and pain were assessed with scoring system for EA (5-point rating scale) and pain scale (PS; 10-point rating scale), respectively. EA and PS were estimated at six time points (after extubation, leaving the operating room, 0, 30, 60, and 120min after arrival in PACU). RESULTS: EA and PS scores were significantly lower in the Dex group than in the saline group from extubation to 120min after arrival in PACU. CONCLUSIONS: Dex administration has the advantage of a reduced EA and PS without any adverse effects. Dex provided satisfactory recovery in infants undergoing palatoplasty.