ObjectivesEmergence delirium (ED) is a common neurologic complication that can not only distress children and their families in the early postanesthetic period, but can also have adverse effects on children in the long-term. This study aimed to investigate the effects of single-dose dexmedetomidine on ED in children with sevoflurane anesthesia and to observe postoperative behavioral changes through long-term follow-up.MethodsPatients aged 2–7 years, American Society of Anesthesiologists class (ASA) I or II, scheduled for tonsillectomy with and without adenoidectomy were randomized to receive dexmedetomidine 0.5 μg/kg (Group D) or volume-matched normal saline (Group C) over 10 minutes after induction of anesthesia. The primary outcome was the incidence of ED within 30 minutes after extubation. Other outcomes were the incidence of pain, extubation time, post-anesthesia care unit (PACU) length of stay after extubation, adverse events, and the incidence of negative postoperative behavioral changes (NPOBCs).ResultsNinety children completed the study. Compared with the control group (Group C), dexmedetomidine decreased the incidence of ED (31.1% vs 53.3%; P=0.033) and pain (28.9% vs 57.8%; P=0.006), but it prolonged extubation time (P⩽0.001). PACU length of stay after extubation and the percentage of adverse events were similar between groups. The incidence of NPOBCs in Group D was significantly lower at 1 and 7 days after discharge (33.3% vs 60.0%; P=0.011% and 24.4% vs 46.7%; P=0.028, respectively) than it was in Group C, but no significant difference was found at the 30th day.ConclusionDexmedetomidine 0.5 μg/kg reduced the incidence of ED after sevoflurane anesthesia and might be used to prevent NPOBCs.Clinical trials registrationChiCTR1800016828.

Objective: To evaluate the effect of butorphanol on the prevention of myoclonus induced by etomidate. Materials and methods: We searched the PubMed, Embase, Cochrane Library, and China National Knowledge Infrastructure databases to collect relevant randomized controlled trials (RCTs) evaluating the effect of butorphanol on etomidate-induced myoclonus in January 2019 without any language restrictions. The primary outcome was the incidence of etomidate-induced myoclonus. Secondary outcomes included the incidence of myoclonus at various degrees and the incidence of adverse effects. Risk ratios (RRs) were calculated for binary outcomes. All statistical analysis were performed by using RevMan 5.3 software. Results: We identified 6 RCTs involving a total of 608 patients who reported the incidence of etomidate-induced myoclonus. In pooled analyses, the incidence of etomidate-induced myoclonus in the butorphanol group was significantly lower than that in the control group (RR =0.15, 95% CI [0.10, 0.22], P <0.00001). Subgroup analyses showed that butorphanol significantly decreased the numbers of patients with mild myoclonus (RR =0.41, 95% CI [0.25, 0.68], P =0.0005), moderate myoclonus (RR =0.18, 95% CI [0.09, 0.34], P <0.00001), and severe myoclonus (RR =0.04, 95% CI [0.01, 0.10], P< 0.00001). Additionally, butorphanol did not increase the incidence of postoperative nausea/vomiting (RR =3.0, 95% CI [0.32, 28.42], P =0.34) or dizziness (RR =6.79, 95% CI [0.84, 54.84], P =0.07) associated with etomidate. Conclusion: Our findings suggest that butorphanol can effectively prevent the incidence of etomidate-induced myoclonus and alleviate the intensity of etomidate-induced myoclonus, without inducing postoperative nausea/vomiting and dizziness.

ObjectiveIntrathecal dexmedetomidine (DEX) has been used to prevent shivering in patients undergoing cesarean section. The aim of this meta-analysis was to evaluate whether intrathecal DEX could prevent shivering in cesarean section after spinal anesthesia.MethodsWe searched PubMed, Embase, Web of Science, and the Cochrane Library for randomized controlled trials (RCTs) comparing intrathecal DEX in cesarean section after spinal anesthesia with placebo and reporting on shivering, postoperative nausea and vomiting (PONV), hypotension, and bradycardia. Trial sequential analysis (TSA) was also carried out for RCTs comparing DEX with placebo. This meta-analysis has been registered on PROSPERO, and the registration number is CRD42017071640.ResultsSix randomized clinical trials comparing 360 patients were included in this study. Compared with placebo, intrathecal DEX significantly reduced the incidence of shivering (risk ratio [RR]=0.40; 95% CI [0.26, 0.62]; P<0.0001). No significant difference was found in the incidence of PONV (RR=1.34; 95% CI [0.82, 2.18]; P=0.24), hypotension (RR=1.09; 95% CI [0.84, 1.42]; P=0.50), or bradycardia (RR=1.55; 95% CI [0.54, 4.42]; P=0.42). However, no firm conclusions can be made based on the results of all outcomes according to the TSA.ConclusionThis meta-analysis found that intrathecal DEX could prevent shivering in cesarean section after spinal anesthesia and did not induce PONV, hypotension, or bradycardia. However, firm conclusions cannot be made until more studies are conducted.

ObjectiveThe aim of this study was to assess the effect of butorphanol on the prevention of opioid-induced cough by a meta-analysis.Materials and methodsWe searched PubMed, Embase, The Cochrane Library, and the China National Knowledge Infrastructure database for relevant randomized controlled trials (RCTs) to demonstrate the efficacy of butorphanol on the prevention of opioid-induced cough. We used RevMan 5.3 to conduct a meta-analysis on each outcome.ResultsEight RCTs comparing 942 patients were included in this study. The pooled meta-analysis showed that the incidence of opioid-induced cough in the butorphanol group was significantly decreased compared with that of the control group (risk ratio [RR]=0.17, 95% CI [0.09, 0.33], P<0.00001). Incidences of opioid-induced cough in the butorphanol group resulting in mild cough (RR=0.30, 95% CI [0.11, 0.78], P=0.01), moderate cough (RR=0.08, 95% CI [0.03, 0.22], P<0.00001), or severe cough (RR=0.08, 95% CI [0.02, 0.30], P=0.0001) were significantly lower than those of the control group.ConclusionThis meta-analysis suggested that butorphanol can effectively prevent the incidence of opioid-induced cough and reduce the severity of opioid-induced cough.

Background: Etomidate used for the induction of general anesthesia can result in myoclonus. We tested the hypothesis that pretreatment with dexmedetomidine (Dex) reduces the incidence of etomidate-induced myoclonus during the induction of general anesthesia. Materials and methods: One hundred patients who were scheduled for selective operations under general anesthesia were included in this randomized, double-blind controlled trial. Patients were randomized to receive either Dex 0.5 µg/kg in 20 mL of normal saline or the same volume of normal saline as pretreatment agents 15 mins before the injection of etomidate 0.3 mg/kg. The primary endpoint was the incidence of etomidate-induced myoclonus. Secondary endpoints were the severity of etomidate-induced myoclonus and the incidence of adverse effects from the onset of action of Dex or normal saline to the injection of etomidate, such as dizziness, respiratory depression, bradycardia, hypotension and nausea/vomiting. Results: All of the 100 patients completed the trial. Dex resulted in a significant 38% reduction in the number of patients who experienced etomidate-induced myoclonus: 13 (26%) vs 32 (64%) ( P =0.0001). Additionally, the severity of myoclonus was also reduced in the Dex group than that in the placebo group ( P =0.02). Incidence of dizziness, respiratory depression, bradycardia, hypotension and nausea/vomiting was similar in both groups. Conclusions: Pretreatment with Dex 0.5 µg/kg 15 mins before the induction of general anesthesia not only resulted in a 38% reduction in the incidence of etomidate-induced myoclonus, but also reduced the severity of myoclonus, without inducing any adverse effects.