Effect of dexmedetomidine on perioperative inflammation and lung protection in elderly patients undergoing radical resection of lung cancer.

OBJECTIVE

To investigate the effects of dexmedetomidine on perioperative inflammation and lung protection in elderly patients undergoing thoracoscopic radical resection of lung cancer.

METHODS

A total of 116 elderly patients undergoing elective radical resection of lung cancer in the Second Affiliate Hospital of Soochow University were selected and divided into two groups by random number table method, 58 cases in each group. Observation group was given 1 μg/kg loading dose of dexmedetomidine by continuously intravenous pump for 10 min before anesthesia induction, which was maintained at a rate of 0.3 μg/(kg·h) until 20 min before the end of operation. Control group was given equal volume of normal saline. Heart rate, mean arterial pressure, and alveolar-arterial oxygen pressure difference (P(A-a)O) were measured and recorded respectively at before anesthesia induction (T0), immediately after endotracheal intubation (T1), 1 h after one-lung ventilation (T2) and 10 min before the end of operation (T3).

RESULTS

Compared with control group, heart rate, P(A-a)O, interleukin-6, interleukin-8 and malondialdehyde levels at T1-T3 in observation group were significantly lower; the superoxide dismutase level was significantly higher (all P<0.05), and alveolar damage index of quantitative assessment and apoptotic index at T3 in observation group were significantly lower (P<0.05). The incidence of postoperative pulmonary complications was 3.4% in observation group and 25.8% in control group (P<0.05). The postoperative awake and spontaneous breathing recovery time in the observation group was significantly shorter compared with control group (P<0.05). There was no significant difference in mean arterial pressure at each time point between the two groups (P>0.05).

CONCLUSION

Dexmedetomidine can reduce inflammatory response and oxidative stress response in elderly patients undergoing radical resection of lung cancer, and reduce the occurrence of postoperative pulmonary complications, thus playing a role in lung protection.