The Effects of Dexmedetomidine Prescription in Paediatric Patients With Pulmonary Hypertension Under Congenital Heart Surgery

Anesthetized patient management for pediatric patients with pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) is a major challenge. The aim of this study was to evaluate the ability of dexmedetomidine to reduce pulmonary arterial hypertension in patients with pulmonary arterial hypertension undergoing cardiac surgery. Sixty-six patients with pulmonary arterial hypertension underwent the study. Patients were randomly divided into two groups: group D received a dexmedetomidine injection in a dose of 1 μg/kg in the first hour and then decreased to 0.5 μg/kg/hr, injection continued after surgery until extubation in the post-anesthetic care unit (PACU). Group C received normal saline 0.9% in a similar volume. Pulmonary artery systolic pressure (PASP) and systemic systolic blood pressure (SSBP) were recorded during and after the surgery in the post-anesthetic care unit. Needing vasodilators, sedatives, extubation time, and the length of ICU stay were recorded for all patients. Patients in the dexmedetomidine group showed a significant reduction in Pulmonary artery systolic pressure and Pulmonary artery systolic pressure/systemic systolic blood pressure rates during surgery and during the first 24 hours in the post-anesthetic care unit (P<0.001). The dexmedetomidine group, in comparison with the control group, needed a significantly lower dose of a vasodilator (P<0.001) and a lower dose of sedation (P<0.001). It is concluded that the use of dexmedetomidine during the surgery in children with pulmonary hypertension reduces pulmonary artery systolic pressure during and after the surgery.