Observation of the clinical efficacy of dexmedetomidine in flexible bronchoscopy under general anesthesia: clinical case experience exchange

OBJECT: To investigate the clinical efficacy and safety of dexmedetomidine in flexible bronchoscopy under general anesthesia. METHODS: A total of 114 patients were randomly divided into intervention group A and control group B. Group A received dexmedetomidine, fentanyl, and propofol as anesthesia, while Group B received fentanyl and propofol only. Changes in heart rate, mean arterial pressure, pulse oxygen saturation, stress indices (blood cortisol, adrenaline, and norepinephrine levels), incidence of adverse events, anesthesia dose, duration of procedure, and recovery time were compared between the groups at specific time points T0, T1, and T2 during bronchoscopy. RESULTS: There was no statistical difference between the groups at T0. At T1 and T2, pulse oxygen saturation, mean arterial pressure, heart rate, and stress indices in group A were significantly more favorable than those in group B. The incidence of adverse events (5.26%) in group A was significantly lower than that in group B (17.54%), and patients in group A required less propofol and had a faster recovery time than patients in group B. CONCLUSION: Dexmedetomidine use in flexible bronchoscopy under general anesthesia is safe and effective and decreases the stress response in synergy with propofol to provide hemodynamic stability.