The Effect of Dezocine on the Median Effective Dose of Sufentanil-Induced Respiratory Depression in Patients Undergoing Spinal Anesthesia Combined with Low-Dose Dexmedetomidine.

PURPOSE: The application of sedation and analgesia in spinal anesthesia has many benefits, but the risk of respiratory depression (RD) caused by opioids cannot be ignored. We aimed to observe the effect of dezocine, a partial agonist of μ-receptor, on the median effective dose (ED50) of sufentanil-induced RD in patients undergoing spinal anesthesia combined with low-dose dexmedetomidine.

PATIENTS AND METHODS: Sixty-two patients were randomly assigned to dezocine group (DS) and control group (MS). After spinal anesthesia, mask oxygen (5 L/min) and dexmedetomidine (0.1 ug/kg) were given. Five minutes later, patients in the DS group received an Intravenous (IV) bolus of sufentanil and 0.05mg/kg dezocine, while patients in the MS group only received an IV bolus of sufentanil.

RESULTS: ED50 of DS group was 0.342 ug/kg, 95% confidence interval (CI) was (0.269, 0.623) ug/kg, and the ED50 of MS group was 0.291 ug/kg, 95% CI was (0.257, 0.346) ug/kg. There was no difference in the type and treatment measures of RD and hemodynamic changes between the two groups, and no serious adverse reactions occurred in either group.

CONCLUSION: Dezocine can improve RD induced by sufentanil in patients with spinal anesthesia combined with low-dose dexmedetomidine, and increase the safety window of sufentanil use.