Effects of Dexmedetomidine on motor- and somatosensory-evoked potentials in patients with thoracic spinal cord tumor: A randomized controlled trial

Abstract

Background: We hypothesized that the addition of dexmedetomidine in a clinically relevant dose to propofol-remifentanil anesthesia regimen does not exert an adverse effect on motor-evoked potentials (MEP) and somatosensory-evoked potentials (SSEP) in adult patients undergoing thoracic spinal cord tumor resection. Methods: Seventy-one adult patients were randomized into three groups. Propofol group (n=25): propofol-remifentanil regimenand the dosage was adjusted to maintain the bispectral index (BIS) between 40 and 50. DP adjusted group (n=23): Dexmedetomidine (0.5 μg/kg loading dose infused over 10 min followed by a constant infusion of 0.5 μg/kg/h) was added to the propofol-remifentanil regimen and propofol was adjusted to maintain BIS between 40 and 50. DP unadjusted group (n=23): Dexmedetomidine (administer as DP adjusted group) was added to the propofol-remifentanil regimen and propofol was not adjusted. All patients received MEP, SSEP and BIS monitoring. Results: There were no significant changes in the amplitude and latency of MEP and SSEP among different groups (P>0.05). The estimated propofol plasma concentration in DP adjusted group (2.7±0.3 μg/ml) was significantly lower than in propofol group (3.1±0.2 μg/ml) and DP unadjusted group (3.1±0.2 μg/ml) (P=0.000). BIS in DP unadjusted group (35±5) was significantly lower than in propofol group (44±3) (P=0.000). Conclusions: The addition of dexmedetomidine to propofol-remifentanil regimen does not exert an adverse effect on MEP and SSEP monitoring in adult patients undergoing thoracic spinal cord tumor resection. Trial registration: The study was registered with the Chinese Clinical Trial Registry on January 31st, 2014. The reference number was ChiCTR-TRC-14004229.