Dexmedetomidine is an α2-adrenoceptor agonist with good sedative effects with no cardiovascular instability or respiratory depression, and it might help facilitate endotracheal intubation and inhibit hemodynamic responses.

The current study assessed how intravenous Dexmedetomidine affected cardiovascular response and endotracheal intubation in opium-addict patients.

This study is a clinically randomized, double-blind, controlled trial. One hundred patients diagnosed with supratentorial brain tumors undergoing tumor resection surgery with general anesthesia entered this study. One group received Dexmedetomidine (1/μg/kg for 10 minutes) before induction of anesthesia. The exact amount of normal saline (placebo) was administered in the second group. The two groups were analyzed statistically regarding blood pressure, heart rate, and bispectral index score, recorded one minute before and one minute after intubation. The statistical tests used for analysis are the student T-test, Mann-Whitney non-parametric test, the chi-square test, and Fisher's exact test.

The intervention group's heart rate, systolic blood pressure, and bispectral index score decreased one minute after anesthesia induction and intubation compared to the control group. Diastolic blood pressure after induction of anesthesia was not significantly different between the two groups; however, it decreased following the intervention after intubation (p > 0.05).

Compared to the control group, Dexmedetomidine suppressed hemodynamic response and bispectral index score in opium-addict patients.