Recovery characteristics in patients undergoing short Gynaecological day care procedures under sedation with Dexmedetomidine vs Propofol infusion : Double blind Randomized controlled trial

Background and Aims: Postoperative psychomotor dysfunction is one of the deciding factors for discharge after daycare surgeries. Sedation for daycare procedures is commonly done using propofol and dexmedetomidine. Hence, we decided to study the recovery characteristics of dexmedetomidine and propofol in patients undergoing short gynaecological day care procedures. Methods: After getting informed consent, 40 patients aged between 18 to 65 years and ASA physical status 1 and 2 undergoing short gynaecological procedures were included for this double-blind prospective randomized controlled trial. All patients were educated about psychomotor tests preoperatively. Patients were randomized into two groups, Group P (propofol) and Group D (dexmedetomidine). Sedation was given using propofol or dexmedetomidine according to the group and titrated to achieve observer's assessment of alertness/sedation (OAA/S) scale 2-3. Recovery characteristics were assessed by modified Aldrete score, time to sit without support, finger tapping test and visual-spatial capacity memory test. Results: Demographic variables, baseline finger tapping test and visual-spatial capacity memory test, duration and type of surgery were comparable. All forty patients tolerated the procedure with no signs of respiratory depression.Time to achieve modified Aldrete score 9- 10 was significantly more in Group P compared to Group D ( 5.6±1.4min vs 4.0±1.4min; P=0.002), while time to sit without support was significantly less in Group P ( 5.6±1.4min vs 4.0±1.4min; P=0.002). Psychomotor tests during recovery and patient satisfaction score were comparable between the groups. Conclusion: Dexmedetomidine and propofol have been found to have comparable recovery characteristics in daycare short gynaecological surgeries.