TWO DIFFERENT DOSES OF DEXMEDETOMIDINE IN ATTENUATING SYMPATHOADRENAL RESPONSE TO ENDOTRACHEAL INTUBATION - A COMPARATIVE STUDY

The objective of our study was to determine whether a lower dose (0.6 microgram/kg) of dexmedetomidine is as effective as the usual dose (1 microgram/kg) for attenuating sympathoadrenal response to endotracheal intubation. MATERIALS AND METHODS 90 patients were fixed to undergo elective surgeries under general anaesthesia, were randomly divided into 3 groups. Group Areceived 0.6 microgram/kg of dexmedetomidine, group B received 1 microgram/kg of dexmedetomidine and group C received 10 ml normal saline over 10 minutes before induction. Anaesthesia was standardised in the groups and vital parameters were recorded for up to 10 minutes after intubation. RESULTS At 5 minutes and completion of drug infusion, group B had statistically significant fall in heart rate as compared to group A (17.3% and 27.2% vs. 5.2% and 10.3%). Maximum fall in mean heart rate was observed at 10 minutes after intubation in group A (29.1%) and at completion of drug infusion in group B (27.2%). The maximum fall in SBP in both groups was observed at 10 minutes following intubation, Group C had statistically significant higher values of HR, SBP, DBP, MAP during all time interval following ET intubation. CONCLUSION A lower dose of dexmedetomidine (0.6 microgram/kg) loading dose provides, significantly better attenuation of sympathoadrenal response to endotracheal intubation unaccompanied by transient increase in blood pressure and bradycardia, which is observed at higher dose of dexmedetomidine (1 microgram/kg) loading dose