ABSTRACT

During functional endoscopic sinus surgery (FESS), sufficient control of bleeding is essential in order to increase the visibility in the operative field and reduce the risk of injury to the optic nerve or internal carotid artery. However, choosing the ideal agent is still a controversial topic. The aim of this study is to compare the effects and possible side effects of remifentanil and dexmedetomidine for controlled hypotension in FESS.

Fifty ASA I-II patients, aged between 18-60 years, undergoing elective FESS, were included. Patients were randomly assigned into two groups (n=25) as Group R (remifentanil infusion, 0.25 mcg kg-1h-1) and Group D (dexmedetomidine infusion, 0.2-0.7 mcg kg-1 min-1). The duration of anesthesia, surgery and controlled hypotension, total drug doses, dryness of the surgical area, recovery time, side effects, liver and kidney function analyses were recorded.

There was no statistically significant difference between the groups in operation time, duration of anesthesia and controlled hypotension time. Group R and D were similar in average SpO2 , dryness, arterial blood pressure, aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), blood urea nitrogen (BUN) and creatinine at all measurement times. Heart rate was lower in Group D than Group R at the time of extubation and 5, 10, 15, 20, 30. min after extubation (p<0.05). Mean recovery time of Group D was longer than Group R (p<0.001).

Based on the side effect scores, visualisation results of surgical area, liver or renal functions; both dexmedetomidine and remifentanil provided adequate, safe, controlled hypotensive anesthesia. However, dexmedetomidine was associated with significantly longer recovery time period compared with remifentanil.

Keywords: Remifentanil, dexmedetomidine, controlled hypotension