Preoperative sedation with dexmedetomidine in patients with aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage

Background: Dexmedetomidine could be beneficial for preoperative sedation of patients with aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH) because of its sympathetic suppressive effect without respiratory depression. Methods: Thirteen patients were sedated with continuous intravenous administration of dexmedetomidine (group D) and 13 were with intermittent intravenous administration of diazepam and pentazocine (group C). Results: Blood pressure (BP) and heart rate (HR) on admission to OR in group D were lower than those in group C. On tracheal intubation, BP and HR increased in both groups, but the differences between the values before and after the intubation were larger in group C than in D. Conclusions: Preoperative dexmedetomidine infusion is suitable for patients with SAH.