The influence of dexmedetomidine on opioid consumption in radical prostatectomy

Objective. Multimodal analgesia and analgesics with different modes of action can reduce perioperative opioid demand and their undesirable side effects. In our study we presumed that patients anesthetised with additional perioperative dexmedetomidine infusion, during radical prostatectomy, would need less opioids during and after surgery compared to the control group. Materials and methods. 40 patients, 18-80 years of age, ASA class 1-3 (American Society of Anesthesiologists), scheduled for radical prostatectomy, were included in the study. Patients were randomly divided into two groups (20 pts in each group). In both groups, fentanyl in repeated boluses was used as an analgesic; in the studied group, an additional infusion of dexmedetomidine (0.3 μg/kg/h) was started with intravenous line insertion and continued until the beginning of wound closure. Analgesic consumption during the operation, in the post-anaesthesia care unit, in the Intensive Care Unit on the day of the operation and on the first postoperative day was recorded. Results. The patients with perioperative dexmedetomidine infusion were slightly younger (p=0.007), also the duration of their surgery was shorter (p =0.05). Differences in opioid consumption between the groups were not found. Also, pain assessment, by visual analogue scale (VAS) after 12, 18, 24, 30, 36 and 42 hours, was not statistically different between groups. Conclusion. In our study, perioperative dexmadetomidine did not reduce periand postoperative opioid consumption. Also, undesirable dexmedetomidine side effects, such as bradycardia and hypotension, were not observed.