Benefits of using dexmedetomidine during carotid endarterectomy: A review

As per current recommendation, patients with acute ischemic stroke should be offered carotid endarterectomy (CEA) within 24-72 hours. The same applies to patients with recurrent transient ischemic attacks (TIA). This time is usually less for hemodynamic optimization of patients who’ve suffered acute ischemic stroke. Hence’ they are hemodynamically labile and can have accelerated hypertension on induction/extubation. This can have disastrous outcomes. It is a common practice among anesthesiologists to avoid angiotensin converting enzyme(ACE) inhibitors or angiotensin receptor blockers on the day of surgery. This also adds to hypertensive issues perioperatively. Dexmedetomidine is a wonderful drug which can be used during CEA. Due to its centrally mediated sympatholytic effect, it confers good hemodynamic control during induction, intraoperatively, and during extubation. We did a search on PubMed and Google for carotid endarterectomies done under general and locoregional anesthesia during which dexmedetomidine was used. The keywords used by us during the search were as follows: anesthesia, carotid endarterectomy, anesthesia. We also searched for use of dexmedetomidine infusion to attenuate hypertensive response to intubation and for providing stability in major surgeries like CABG, craniotomies, bariatric surgeries, and valve replacements.