Journal of AdvancedMedical and Dental Sciences Research

Background: Middle ear surgery under general anaesthesia is revolutionised with the introduction of hypotensive anaesthesia that provides a relatively bloodless field while using an operating microscope. The present study was conducted to assess the role of dexmedetomidine infusion as anaesthetic adjuvant during middle ear surgery. Materials & Methods: 70 adult patients aged ranged 18-58 years of American Society of Anaesthesiologists (ASA) physical status I and II of both genders selected for elective middle ear surgery. Group I patients received infusion of dexmedetomidine 0.5 µg/kg/hour and group II patients received placebo infusion of normal saline during middle ear surgery after induction of anaesthesia till 20 minutes before completion of surgery. All patients were assessed intra operatively for bleeding at surgical field and haemodynamic changes. Results: The mean surgical time in group I was 96.2 minutes and in group II was 105.4 minutes, heart rate (beats/min) was at baseline in group I was 94.1 and in group II was 92.8, after induction was 73.3 in group I and 72.0 in group II, after intubation 5 min was 77.6 in group I and 75.4 in group II, 30 min was 73.6 in group I and 78.8 in group II, at 60 min was 68.7 in group I and 87.2 in group II and after extubation was 84.5 in group I and 97.3 in group II. There was mean percentage of isoflurane requirement of 0.81% in group I and 1.52 % in group II. The difference was significant (P< 0.05). Conclusion: Dexmedetomidine infusion was safe to provide oligaemic surgical field for better visualisation for middle ear surgery under operating microscope.