Perspectives on Dexmedetomidine Use for Neurosurgical Patients

The α2-adrenergic receptor agonist dexmedetomidine has sedative, anxiolytic, analgesic, and sympatholytic effects. The potential advantages of neuroprotection, minimal impact on neuronal function, stable hemodynamics, opioid and anesthesia sparing effects, and minimal respiratory depression during awake procedures render it an effective anesthetic adjuvant in various neurosurgical settings. However, both the benefits and drawbacks of the use dexmedetomidine in neuroanesthesia should be considered. This narrative review will summarize the applications of dexmedetomidine in various neurosurgical settings, highlighting evidence regarding both its common and controversial uses. Supported by Beijing Municipal Administration of Hospitals' Youth Program (QML20160503) and by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (Grant No.1701038). The authors have no funding or conflicts of interest to disclose. Address correspondence to: Adrian W. Gelb, MB, ChB, Department of Anesthesia & Perioperative Care, University of California San Francisco, 500 Parnassus Ave., MUE 408, San Francisco, CA 94143 (e-mail: adrian.gelb@ucsf.edu). Received March 27, 2018 Accepted September 6, 2018 Copyright © 2018 Wolters Kluwer Health, Inc. All rights reserved

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