In people undergoing intestinal surgery, intravenous injection of dexmedetomidine suppressed surgery-elicited inflammatory reactions.

A single-blinded, randomized controlled clinical trial was carried out to explore the association between dexmedetomidine use and the postoperative inflammatory response in patients scheduled to undergo intestinal surgery. 

The study recruited 86 participants scheduled for intestinal surgery and segregated them into either the dexmedetomidine group (n = 40) or control group (n = 40) [6 people were eliminated due to multiple reasons like allergy and history of drug usage]. The clinical characteristics and physiological outcomes of people who were given different therapies (dexmedetomidine and 0.9% sodium chloride) were examined.

Collection of the blood samples was done prior to administration (T0), 10 minutes following pumping of dexmedetomidine/saline solution (T1), instantly following the commencement of operation (T2), 30 minutes following the commencement of operation (T3), and instantly after the operation ended (T4). For determining the proinflammatory factors, enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) was done.

Intravenously administered dexmedetomidine prior to intestinal surgery reduced numerous circulating proinflammatory factors in the serum of patients. Moreover, dexmedetomidine was found to alleviate the stress response and boost the recovery of cognitive ability in individuals undergoing intestinal surgery.

Dexmedetomidine, a highly selective α2-adrenergic receptor agonist, reduces the incidence of inflammation in individuals undergoing intestinal surgery.