Study to Assess the Role of Dexmedetomidine in Patients Undergoing Craniotomies and Laminectomies under General

Abstract: Dexmedetomidine a highly selective α-2 agonist has been shown to provide good perioperative haemodynamic stability and analgesia. It may provide neuroprotection and hence may be considered to be a suitable adjuvant during neurosurgical anaesthesia. This prospective randomized double-blind control study was designed to assess the perioperative effects of infusion of dexmedetomidine in patients with intracranial surgeries and laminectomies done under general anaesthesia. Sixty ASA grade I /II patients between 18-50 years of age were divided randomly into 2 groups of thirty each. Group A: Inj. Dexmedetomidine was given as a bolus dose of 1 mcg/kg by slow iv infusion over 20 minutes just before induction of anaesthesia followed by a maintenance infusion of 0.4 mcg/kg/hr. The infusion was discontinued at the completion of surgery. Group B: The patients received similar volumes of normal saline. Data were expressed as mean values ± standard deviation. p-value < 0.05 was considered to be statistically significant. We observed that heart rate and mean arterial blood pressure decreased in group A (dexmedetomidine group) more than group B (placeb