The Impact of a Single Dexmedetomidine Bolus on Intraoperative Sevoflurane Consumption (DEXHALE)
Status:
Not yet recruiting
Trial end date:
2023-09-01
Target enrollment:
Participant gender:
Summary
Sevoflurane is a volatile agent easy to control thanks to the Minimum Alveolar Concentration
(MAC) allowing its titration for an optimal depth of anesthesia. Growing biomedical evidence
also highlight its anti-inflammatory and antioxidant effects protecting against
ischemia-reperfusion injury in cardiac surgery and, potentially, in organ transplant. The
estimated annual contribution of inhalational anesthetic agents represents about 0.01% of
global CO2 production. Alternatives such as total intravenous anesthesia (TIVA) avoid direct
greenhouse emission, but their indirect carbon footprint remains a major problem. For all
these reasons, we aim to find a way to maintain the use of sevoflurane for its clinical
benefits while reducing its consumption to limit the environmental consequences. The use of
dexmedetomidine could help us achieve this greener sevoflurane anesthesia. Dexmedetomidine is
a potent, highly selective α-2 adrenergic receptor agonist described as a unique sedative
with analgesic and sympatholytic properties. This new randomized controlled trial (RCT) will
answer the question whether a single bolus of dexmedetomidine (0.6 mcg.kg-1 on 10 minutes
during induction) compared to placebo has a clinically significant impact on sevoflurane
consumption during laparoscopic elective surgery.