Effect of intraoperative dexmedetomidine on postoperative cognitive functions of elderly patients undergoing total laryngectomy

Background: Postoperative cognitive dysfunction is commonly encountered after major surgical operations. This study was conducted to evaluate the effect of dexmedetomidine on neurocognitive dysfunction and postoperative recovery after total laryngectomy in the elderly population. Results: Preoperative characteristics were comparable between the two groups. However, both sevoflurane consumption and recovery time were significantly decreased in the Dex group. Also, the time to first analgesic request and sedation level showed a significant improvement in the same group. The Dex group showed its superiority regarding most of the used cognitive tests. Although there was no significant difference between the two study groups regarding basal S100B, postoperative levels significantly decreased in the Dex group. Conclusions: Dexmedetomidine administration is associated with a significant improvement of cognitive function after surgery in the elderly population. It is associated with a better analgesic and sedative profile along with decreased neurological inflammatory markers. However, the patient must be closely monitored for side effects like bradycardia and hypotension.