Comparative Evaluation of Intranasal Dexmedetomidine Spray Versus Intranasal Normal Saline Spray in Patients Undergoing Transalveolar Extractions for Anxiety Reduction: A Randomized Control Study

BACKGROUND: Dexmedetomidine has dose-dependent selectivity for alpha 2 adrenoceptors. It is a good sedative with analgesic characteristics and good haemodynamic stability. Intranasal sedation is a non-invasive medication delivery method that is both safe and well accepted by both children and adults. One of the most common procedures in maxillofacial surgery is transalveolar extraction. In minor oral surgery, a painless transalveolar extraction with little post-operative pain would be ideal. AIM: To examine the effectiveness of intranasal dexmedetomidine spray against intranasal normal saline spray in patients undergoing transalveolar extractions for anxiety relief. METHOD: We compared sedation effect by Ramsay sedation scale, analgesia by visual analogue scale, monitored BP and pulse rate for anxiety, and spo2 levels for any complication in this prospective double-blinded randomized control study for two groups, A group with intranasal dexmedetomidine spray and the B group of intranasal NS spray for placebo effect at 0 min, 15 min, 30 min, and 45 min until transalveolar extraction. RESULT: As a result of the intranasal spray of dexmedetomidine, there were no related problems such as respiratory depression. There was a substantial difference in sedation and analgesia between group A and the placebo group, as well as a significant decrease in pulse rate and hypotension in the dexmedetomidine group to reduce anxiety. CONCLUSION: Intranasal injection of atomized dexmedetomidine (1.5 mcg/kg) for patient sedation having transalveolar extractions or other minor surgical operations in oral and maxillofacial surgery is clinically effective, convenient, lowers anxiety, and safe. Clinical Trial Registration: No. CTRI/2021/07/035181.