T. Renganathan
BACKGROUND
Application of skull-pin head holder to stabilise the head in craniotomies causes stress in the haemodynamic response (increase in heart rate and mean arterial pressure) and neuroendocrine response (increase in blood glucose, serum cortisol and serum prolactin). In this study, attenuation of haemodynamic and neuroendocrine stress response with dexmedetomidine, an alpha-2 adrenoreceptor agonist versus placebo (normal saline) were compared.
MATERIALS AND METHODS
Forty patients posted for elective craniotomy in the age group of 18 to 60 years of both sexes were divided into two groups of 20 each as dexmedetomidine and placebo (normal saline) and the attenuation of haemodynamic response and neuroendocrine response to intravenous dexmedetomidine or placebo to the application of skull-pin head holder were compared. Data of haemodynamic and neuroendocrine responses were analysed statistically by Student’s t-test, independent t-test and paired t-test and the p value of <0.05 was considered statistically significant.
RESULTS
The results of study showed that the increase in heart rate, mean arterial pressure and increase in blood glucose, serum cortisol and serum prolactin was attenuated by dexmedetomidine.
CONCLUSION
Concludes that the dexmedetomidine attenuates the haemodynamic and neuroendocrine response to the application of skull-pin head holder in craniotomy surgeries.
