A Comparative Evaluation of Dexmedetomidine Infusion versus Normal Saline on Intraoperative Hemodynamic Stability in Laparoscopic Cholecystectomy

Background: Dexmedetomidine, an α2-adrenergic agonist, is widely used for its sedative, analgesic, andsympatholytic properties. This study aimed to compare the effects of dexmedetomidine infusion versus normalsaline on intraoperative hemodynamic stability in patients undergoing laparoscopic cholecystectomy.Material and Methods: A prospective, randomized, double-blinded study was conducted over one year at atertiary care center in Western Gujarat involving 63 patients undergoing elective laparoscopic cholecystectomy.Patients were divided into two groups: Group 1 received dexmedetomidine infusion (0.2 μg/kg/hr in 100 mlsaline), while Group 2 received 100 ml normal saline. Hemodynamic parameters—heart rate (HR), systolicblood pressure (SBP), diastolic blood pressure (DBP), mean arterial pressure (MAP), and oxygen saturation(SpO₂)—were recorded at predefined intraoperative intervals.Results: Baseline HR was 87.97 ± 15.24 bpm in Group 1 and 83.87 ± 12.42 bpm in Group 2 (p = 0.249), whichincreased post-intubation to 96.94 ± 14.21 and 103.27 ± 14.05 bpm, respectively (p = 0.081). SBP peaked at137.70 ± 15.67 mmHg in Group 1 and 141.93 ± 23.38 mmHg in Group 2 post-intubation (p = 0.398). MAP wasconsistently lower in the dexmedetomidine group, notably at 30 minutes (93.46 ± 9.65 mmHg vs. 98.43 ± 11.35mmHg, p = 0.104). SpO₂ remained above 99% in both groups throughout, with no episodes of desaturation. Nostatistically significant differences were found between groups in any parameter, but the dexmedetomidinegroup showed consistently lower and more stable values.Conclusion: Dexmedetomidine infusion during laparoscopic cholecystectomy provided smoother hemodynamiccontrol, attenuating intraoperative HR and BP elevations more effectively than saline. Though the differenceswere not statistically significant, the trends favor dexmedetomidine as a safe and effective adjunct to generalanesthesia in minimally invasive surgeries.