PT  - JOURNAL ARTICLE
AU  - Nuh T. Altindis
AU  - Dilek Karaaslan
AU  - Tulay T. Peker
AU  - Sadik Ozmen
AU  - Mahmut Bulbul
TI  - Comparison of meperidine alone with meperidine plus dexmedetomidine for postoperative patient-controlled analgesia
DP  - 2008 Apr 01
TA  - Neurosciences Journal
PG  - 117--121
VI  - 13
IP  - 2
4099  - http://nsj.org.sa/content/13/2/117.short
4100  - http://nsj.org.sa/content/13/2/117.full
SO  - Neurosciences (Riyadh)2008 Apr 01; 13
AB  - OBJECTIVE: To investigate if the addition of dexmedetomidine to meperidine in a patient-controlled analgesia (PCA) device would reduce postoperative meperidine consumption when compared with meperidine alone.METHODS: Forty patients scheduled for elective abdominal surgery under general anesthesia in Suleyman Demirel University Medical School, Isparta, Turkey between February and September 2006, were randomly allocated into 2 groups. Group I: meperidine 0.25 mg kg-1 intravenous bolus and dexmedetomidine 0.5 mcg kg-1 in 50 ml of saline solution infusion before the end of surgery. Group II: meperidine 0.25 mg kg-1 intravenous bolus and 50 ml of saline solution infusion. In the postanesthesia care unit (PACU) patients in both groups received intravenous meperidine 10 mg with 5-minutes intervals until the patient’s verbal pain score is lower than 2. Patients in both groups received PCA during the 24 hours after surgery (meperidine 5 mg + dexmedetomidine 10 mcg bolus for group I, meperidine 5 mg for group II). The verbal rating score of pain and meperidine requirement is recorded during PACU stay. Meperidine consumption with PCA is recorded until 24 hours postoperatively.RESULTS: Verbal rating score of pain in the PACU was lower in group I than group II (p<0.05). Meperidine consumption was lower in group I than group II during the PACU stay and until 24 hours postoperatively (p<0.01).CONCLUSION: When compared with meperidine PCA, meperidine-dexmedetomidine PCA reduces postoperative meperidine consumption.