Dexmedetomidine has demonstrated to be useful in several clinical fields due to its respiratory safety and cardiovascular stability. We undertook this study to determine its usefulness in plastic surgery. Sixty patients were divided into two parallel groups. A group received dexmedetomidine--fentanyl and the comparison group received nalbuphine--propofol, both with same dose of midazolam. Blood pressure, heart rate and oxygen saturation were determined during the preoperative, intraoperative and recuperation periods.
Results: In both groups, hemodynamic constants decreased intraoperatively. Dexmedetomidine--fentanyl decreased more than in the nalbuphine--propofol (systolic blood pressure, p = 0.006; diastolic blood pressure, p = 0.01 and heart rate, p = 0.007). Comparatively, oxygen saturation was greater in the dexmedetomidine--fentanyl group vs. nalbuphine--propofol (p = 0.0001). Recovery time for the nalbuphine--propofol group was shorter than in the dexmedetomidine--fentanyl group (p = 0.0001).
Conclusions: Dexmedetomidine shows the same cardiovascular stability but with absence of respiratory depression.