Objective. Our objective is to investigate the efficacy
and safety of intraperitoneal dexmedetomidine
(Dex) combined with bupivacaine in patients undergoing
laparoscopic colorectal cancer surgery.
Design. Randomized double-blind study. Setting.
Academic medical center.
Patients and methods. Forty-five patients scheduled
for laparoscopic colorectal cancer surgery
were randomly assigned for intraperitoneal administration
of 50 mL saline (control group; GI, n515),
50 mL bupivacaine 0.25% (125 mg; GII, n515), or
50 mL bupivacaine 0.25% (125 mg) 11 lg/kg Dex
(GIII, n515). Patients were assessed during the first
24 hours postoperatively for hemodynamics, visual
analogue scale (VAS), time to first request of analgesia,
total analgesic consumption, shoulder pain,
and side effects.
Results. A significant reduction was observed in
VAS in GIII at base line, 2, 4, and 24 hours postoperatively
in comparison to GI and GII (P < 0.05). The
time to first analgesic requirement was significantly
prolonged in GIII (P< 0.05). The mean total consumption
of rescue analgesia was significantly
reduced in GIII.
Conclusion. We conclude that intraperitoneal
administration of Dex 1 lg/kg combined with bupivacaine
improves the quality and the duration of
postoperative analgesia and provides an analgesic
sparing effect compared to bupivacaine alone without
significant adverse effects in patients undergoing
laparoscopic colorectal cancer surgery.