Influences of epidural dexmedetomidine on thoracic surgery with one-lung ventilation

Objective To study the influences of epidural dexmedetomidine on intraoperative awareness and post-operative pain in thoracic surgery with one-lung ventilation(OLV).Methods 50 cases of thoracic surgery were randomly divided into A、B two groups.A group was dexmedetomidine with ropivacaine and B group was ropivacaine alone.Intraoperative haemodynamic and bispectral index values (BIS) were recorded.Post-operative visual analogue score (VAS) for pain and intraoperative awareness was queried on 1 day,4 day.Results The BIS in A group was significantly lower B group in OLV-10 and OLV-30.B group had higher VAS scores and two patients in group B reported possible intraoperative awareness.Conclusion In thoracic surgery with OLV,the use of epidural dexmedetomidine decreases the anaesthetic requirements significantly,prevents intraoperative awareness and improves post-operative analgesia.