Dexmedetomidine during total knee arthroplasty performed under spinal anesthesia decreases opioid use: a randomized-controlled trial

Conclusions Dexmedetomidine was associated with a significant decrease in morphine use in the first 24 hr following total knee arthroplasty. Our study shows that an intraoperative infusion of dexmedetomidine for sedation in patients receiving spinal anesthesia can produce postoperative analgesic effects. This offers another potential adjunct in the multimodal pain management of these patients. This trial was registered at ClinicalTrials.gov (identifier NCT02026141).

http://link.springer.com/10.1007/s12630-016-0597-y

Source: Canadian Journal of Anesthesia - January 29, 2016 Category: Anesthesiology Source Type: research