• R Polat, K Peker, I Baran, G Bumin Aydın, Ç Topçu Gülöksüz, and A Dönmez.
• Ministry of Health, Department of Anesthesiology Diskapi, Diskapi Yildirim Beyazit Research and Training Hospital, Ankara, Turkey. reyhanp9@gmail.com.
• Anaesthesist. 2015 Oct 1; 64 (10): 740746740-6.

BackgroundPostoperative emergency agitation (EA) is a common problem. Dexmedetomidine and remifentanil may be used to prevent this problem. Our primary aim was to compare dexmedetomidine, remifentanil, and placebo with respect to their effectiveness in preventing postoperative EA.Material And MethodsNinety patients undergoing nasal surgery were randomized into three groups. The dexmedetomidine group (group D, n = 30) received dexmedetomidine infusion at a rate of 0.4 μg kg(-1 ) h(-1); the remifentanil group (group R, n = 30) received remifentanil infusion at a rate of 0.05 μg kg(-1) min(-1) from induction of anesthesia until extubation; and the control group (group S, n = 30) received a volume-matched normal saline infusion as a placebo. Propofol (1.5-2 mg kg(-1)) and fentanyl (1 μg kg(-1)) were used to initiate anesthesia, and desflurane was used to maintain anesthesia. The incidence of agitation, hemodynamic parameters, and recovery characteristics were evaluated during emergence.ResultsThe incidence of EA was significantly higher in group S (46.7%) compared with groups R and D (3.3 and 20%, respectively; p < 0.001). The lowest incidence of EA was detected in group R (p = 0.046). Residual sedation in the post-anesthesia care unit (PACU) was similar in all groups (p = 0.947). The incidence of nausea or vomiting was significantly lower in group D than in groups R and S (p = 0.043). Administration of analgesics in the PACU was higher in group R than in groups S and D (p = 0.015).ConclusionAnesthetic maintenance with either remifentanil or dexmedetomidine infusion until extubation provided a more smooth and hemodynamically stable emergence, without complications after nasal surgery. While remifentanil was superior to dexmedetomidine with regard to avoiding EA, dexmedetomidine was more effective than remifentanil regarding vomiting and pain.

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