Randomized Trial of the Use of Dexmedetomidine vs. Propofol after Regional Blockade in Shoulder Surgery Patients in Beach Chair Position

Background: Propofol is often the drug of choice for ambulatory orthopedic cases. However, propofol can be associated with apnea or other events requiring airway interventions. Dexmedetomidine (Dex) has the unique pharmacologic profile of providing sedation without respiratory depression. This is particularly relevant in patients with morbid obesity and/or challenging airways. The hypotheses were: 1) Propofol would cause more apnea or require more airway manipulations than dexmedetomidine; 2) Propofol would have shorter post anesthesia unit recovery times; and 3) Dexmedetomidine would be associated with more bradycardia and hypotension. Methods: After IRB approval, 50 patients were randomized to receive either propofol or Dex for Total Intravenous anesthesia (TIVA) after interscalene brachial plexus block was performed preoperatively under ultrasound guidance. The main end points that we measured where: airway interventions, intra-operative bradycardia, hypotension, and PACU length of stay. Results: There were more airway interventions in the propofol group compared to the Dex group. Additionally, the Dex group had significantly longer PACU stays. Conclusion: We would recommend that Dex should be preferentially considered for patients predisposed to airway obstruction; however, the standard use of Dex over Propofol needed to reconsider since the use of Dex as the agent for TIVA was associated with longer PACU stays.