Effect of Dexmedetomidine on Blood Pressure in Patients with Hypertension after Emergency Laparotomy for Trauma: A Randomized Double-blind Clinical Trial

Patients with a history of hypertension experience higher postoperative complications than healthy individuals. The frequency of such complications is also higher in emergency patients than elective ones; therefore, it seems that preventive measures are essential.
The present study aimed at determining the effect of dexmedetomidine on blood pressure in patients with hypertension after emergency laparotomy for trauma.
The present study was a randomized, double-blind clinical trial performed from 2019 to 2020 on patients with a history of hypertension undergoing emergency laparotomy. Patients received the intervention 15 minutes before surgery (the intervention group: intravenous (iv) dexmedetomidine and the control group: normal saline), and the intensity of the pain(VAS), agitation(RASS), and blood pressure were measured and compared at different time points. Data were compared using SPSS software (version 21) by t-test and Chi-square tests considering a significance level of <0.05.
There were statistically significant differences between the two groups just after the drug infusion and at all studied time points (P<0.05), so that the intervention group had more stable blood pressure. Pain intensity (P<0.05) and the degree of agitation (P<0.05) in the intervention group were significantly lower than that in the control group at all studied time points.
Dexmedetomidine infusion leads to a stabilization of blood pressure during surgery and after surgery, pain relief, and agitation in patients with hypertension undergoing emergency laparotomy for trauma.