Key result
Alpha-2 agonists aid anesthesia but routine use is limited by bradycardia.
Why the study?
Clonidine and dexmedetomidine may be useful adjuncts to anaesthesia, but haemodynamic effects limit their routine use and specific indications need definition.
α2-Adrenergic agonists show potential as anaesthesia adjuncts, but their use may be limited by bradycardia.
Clonidine and the more specific and shorter acting x2-adrenergic agonist dexmedetomidine may prove clinically useful as an adjunct to anaesthesia for a number of indications. However, haemodynamic effects (particularly bradycardia) may limit the routine use of these compounds. Further clinical studies will define specific indications for dexmedetomidine and the recently discovered subdivisions of x2.-adrenoceptors may allow the development of new and more specific compounds.
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Aho et al. (1992) conducted a review in Anaesthesia. α2-Adrenergic agonists (clonidine, dexmedetomidine) was evaluated. Alpha-2 adrenergic agonists like clonidine and dexmedetomidine may be useful adjuncts to anaesthesia, but their routine use is potentially limited by haemodynamic effects such as bradycardia.
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