The Effect of Dexmedetomidine on the Prevention of Delirium After Esophagectomy

Abstract

Since esophagectomy surgery is a long-term operation, it is associated with receiving high anesthetic drugs, all of these factors contribute to the occurrence of delirium, and on the other hand, all patients need hospitalization in the intensive care unit after the surgery. Delirium is likely to occur for these patients; Therefore, it is necessary to take preventive measures; Considering the possible and preventive effects of dexmedetomidine in relation to delirium, the present study was conducted with the aim of investigating the effect of dexmedetomidine in the prevention of delirium after esophagectomy surgery. Methods: This study was a clinical trial that was conducted with the participation of 50 esophagectomy candidates. Patients were randomly divided into intervention and control groups. Immediately after the induction of anesthesia, the patients received the intervention. Dexmedetomidine was injected at a rate of 0.5 μg/kg/h, and normal saline (placebo) was infused at a rate of 1 ml/h. The infusion of drugs continued until the end of the surgery (the end of the surgical dressing). Finally, the degree of delirium was measured every eight hours for all patients until the third day after discharge from the operating room. Results: A comparison of the prevalence of delirium in the patients participating in the study indicated that at all times, the prevalence of delirium in the patients of the control group was significantly higher than that of the group receiving dexmedetomidine; So that the prevalence of delirium on the first day in the dexmedetomidine group was significantly lower than the incidence of delirium in the control group by P=0.001, on the second day by P=0.004 and on the third day by P=0.001. Was; At the time of discharge from recovery in two groups, there was no statistically significant difference (P=0.999), while on the first day (P=0.009), the second day (P=0.001) and the third day (0.019) P =) in the patients of the control group was significantly higher than the intensity of pain in the patients of the intervention group. In recovery (on arrival and at discharge) and all three times on the first day, the intensity of nausea and vomiting in the intervention group was significantly lower than the intensity of nausea and vomiting in the control group, at other times the intensity of nausea and vomiting between the two groups without The difference was statistically significant.