Dexmedetomidine Attenuates Inflammation in Elderly Patients Following Major Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Surgery: A Randomized Clinical Trial.

Background: Dexmedetomidine (Dex) may have anti-inflammatory properties and potentially reduce the incidence of postoperative organ injury.

Objective: To investigate whether Dex protects pulmonary and renal function via its anti-inflammatory effects in elderly patients undergoing prolonged major hepatobiliary and pancreatic surgery.

Design And Setting: Between October 2019 and December 2020, this randomized controlled trial was carried out at a tertiary hospital in Chongqing, China.

Patients: 86 patients aged 60-75 who underwent long-duration (> 4 hrs) hepatobiliary and pancreatic surgery without significant comorbidities were enrolled and randomly assigned into two groups at a 1:1 ratio.

Interventions: Patients were given either Dex or an equivalent volume of 0.9% saline (Placebo) with a loading dose of 1 μg kg for 10 min, followed by 0.5 μg kg hr for maintenance until the end of surgery.

Main Outcome Measures: The changes in serum concentrations of interleukin-6 (IL-6) and tumour necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) were primary outcomes.

Results: At one hour postoperatively, serum IL-6 displayed a nine-fold increase (P<0.05) in the Placebo group. Administration of Dex decreased IL-6 to 278.09 ± 45.43 pg/mL (95% CI: 187.75 to 368.43) compared to the Placebo group (P=0.019; 432.16 ± 45.43 pg/mL, 95% CI: 341.82 to 522.50). However, no significant differences in TNF-α were observed between the two groups. The incidence of postoperative acute kidney injury was twice as high in the Placebo group (9.30%) compared to the Dex group (4.65%), and the incidence of postoperative acute lung injury was 23.26% in the Dex group, lower than that in the Placebo group (30.23%), although there was no statistical significance between the two groups.

Conclusion: Dex administration in elderly patients undergoing major hepatobiliary and pancreatic surgery reduces inflammation and potentially protects kidneys and lungs.

Registration: Chinese Clinical Trials Registry, identifier: ChiCTR1900024162, on 28 June 2019.