Dexmedetomidine Alleviates Postoperative Delirium After Brain Tumor Resections

Summary

Postoperative delirium (POD) is a common complication, and the incidence rate is about 25% in non cardiac surgery. Previous studies have reported that the total incidence of neurological pod ranged from 10% to 22%. Dexmedetomidine (DEX) is an a-2 adrenergic agonist for sedation. This kind of drug has little effect on respiratory function, is easy to wake up and has analgesic effect. It is a commonly used perioperative adjuvant drug. However, for neurosurgical patients with brain tumors, the role of DEX in POD is not clear. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of DEX on POD in neurosurgical brain tumor surgery.

Timeline

Start

2021-01-18

Primary completion

2021-12-31

Completion

2022-01-28

Publications

• Wu Y, Ren Y, Li S, Zeng M, Wang J, Li M, Peng Y. Association between intraoperative hypotension during brain tumor resection and postoperative delirium: A secondary analysis of a randomized controlled trial. PLoS One. 2025 Oct 29;20(10):e0334094. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0334094. eCollection 2025.
• Zeng M, Xu X, Li R, Zhang X, Ma T, Cui Q, Wang J, Li S, Peng Y. Dexmedetomidine Prevents Chronic Incisional Pain After Brain Tumor Resection: A Secondary Analysis of the Randomized Control Trial. Anesth Analg. 2024 Apr 1;138(4):839-847. doi: 10.1213/ANE.0000000000006563. Epub 2023 Jun 12.
• Li S, Li R, Li M, Cui Q, Zhang X, Ma T, Wang D, Zeng M, Li H, Bao Z, Peng Y, Sessler DI. Dexmedetomidine administration during brain tumour resection for prevention of postoperative delirium: a randomised trial. Br J Anaesth. 2023 Feb;130(2):e307-e316. doi: 10.1016/j.bja.2022.10.041. Epub 2022 Dec 13.
• Wang D, Li R, Li S, Wang J, Zeng M, Dong J, Liu X, Lin N, Peng Y. Effect of dexmedetomidine on postoperative delirium in patients undergoing brain tumour resections: study protocol of a randomised controlled trial. BMJ Open. 2021 Nov 10;11(11):e051584. doi: 10.1136/bmjopen-2021-051584.

Drugs

Indications