Echocardiographic evaluation of the effects of dexmedetomidine on cardiac function during total intravenous anaesthesia

The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of dexmedetomidine on biventricular systolic and diastolic function using transoesophageal echocardiography. Cardiac function was assessed in 30 healthy patients who received total intravenous anaesthesia with propofol and remifentanil. The echocardiographic examinations were performed just before and 20, 40 and 60 min after dexmedetomidine or saline administration. Patients who received dexmedetomidine, compared with saline after 20 min, had a lower mean (SD) heart rate (56.7 (5.2) vs. 67.1 (7.1) beats.min(-1) ), higher systolic blood pressure (125.7 (18.9) vs. 109 (7.9) mmHg), and lower cardiac output (2.9 (0.5) vs. 3.7 (1.0) l.min(-1) ), respectively (all p < 0.05). In contrast, no changes were observed in biventricular systolic and diastolic indices in either group, and there were no inter-group differences at any time point. Dexmedetomidine, as an adjuvant to total intravenous anaesthesia, does not impair biventricular systolic and diastolic function in healthy patients, but decreases cardiac output by reducing heart rate.