Comparison of remifentanil with dexmedetomidine for monitored anaesthesia care in elderly patients during vertebroplasty and kyphoplasty

Objectives This clinical trial is registered at ClinicalTrials.gov. (NCT02476981) This randomized, prospective double-blind study compared remifentanil with dexmedetomidine for monitored anaesthesia care during minimally invasive corrections of vertebral compression fractures (vertebroplasty or kyphoplasty). Methods Patients > 65 years of age with American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) classification I–III, scheduled for vertebroplasty or kyphoplasty under monitored anaesthesia care, received remifentanil (i.v. infusion 1–5 µg/kg/h) or dexmedetomidine (loading dose 0.3–0.4 µg/kg followed by i.v. infusion 0.2–1 µg/kg/h) to maintain observer's assessment of alertness/sedation (OAA/S) scale