The influence of dexmedetomidine on remifentanil-induced hyperalgesia and the sex differences

In the clinical settings, patients often develop opioid-induced hyperalgesia (OIH) after utilization of high dose intra-operative remifentanil. Systemic 2 agonists, including dexmedetomidine, are believed to reduce pain and opioid requirements after surgery, thus decreasing the incidence of hyperalgesia. The present study aimed to investigate the effect of dexmedetomidine on remifentanil-induced hyperalgesia and explored the sex differences. A total of 48 patients (24 male, 24 female) with an American Society of Anesthesiologists physical status of I-II that were undergoing thyroidectomy were randomly assigned to one of the following six groups: Male controlled group (MC) and female controlled group (FC) (group MC, n=8 and group FC, n=8), which received a preoperative placebo of 0.2 mu g.kg(-1) normal saline and intraoperative remifentanil 0.2 mu g.kg(-1).min(-1); male and female group with low-dose dexmedetomidine (group MD1, n=8 and group FD1, n=8), which received preoperative dexmedetomidine 0.2 mu g.kg(-1) and intraoperative remifentanil 0.2 mu g.kg(-1).min(-1); and male and female groups with high-dose dexmedetomidine (group MD2, n=8 and group FD2, n=8), which received dexmedetomidine 0.6 mu g.kg(-1) and intraoperative remifentanil 0.2 mu g.kg(-1).min(-1). Result indicated that the visual analog scale (VAS) scores and morphine dosing frequency were significantly higher in MC and FC groups compared with the other same sex groups. Furthermore, the mechanical hyperalgesia threshold and patients' analgesia satisfaction score after surgery were significantly lower in MC and FC groups. Notably, the frequency of post-operative chills, nausea and vomiting were significantly lower in groups MD1, MD2, FD1 and FD2. The present findings indicated that low- and high-dose dexmedetomidine injection significantly decreased the patient's risk of enhanced pain intensity and increased postoperative morphine dosing caused by remifentanil-induced hyperalgesia. These findings suggest that the influence of dexmedetomidine displayed minimal significant differences between sex. Trial registration no., IRB2018-YX-001 (Name of registry: Institutional Medical Ethics Committee of Tianjin Medical University General Hospital; date of registration: February 1, 2016).