Abstract
Etomidate is frequently used nowadays as an inducing agent in patients with compromised cardiovascular function, but it leads to undesirable side effects like myoclonus during induction. Several drugs have been considered before induction to reduce the incidence of myoclonus. This prospective, randomized double blinded study was aimed to compare the effect of dexmedetomidine (DEX) pretreatment on the incidence and severity of etomidateinduced myoclonus. 100 patients undergoing elective surgical procedures were randomly allocated to two groups for i.v. administration of 1.0 µg/kg DEX in 100 mL isotonic saline (group D) and 100 mL isotonic saline (group NS) 10 minutes prior to induction. All groups subsequently received 0.3 mg/kg etomidate by intravenous injection. The incidence and severity of myoclonus were recorded for 1 min after etomidate administration and the incidence of cardiovascular adverse effects were also recorded. The incidence of myoclonus was 38% was in group D and 70% in group NS. The severity of myoclonus was graded as mild, moderate and severe. In group D and group NS number of patients who had mild, moderate and severe myoclonus were 10,5,4 and 11,15,9 respectively. It was concluded that pretreatment with 1.0 µg/kg DEX significantly reduced the incidence and severity of etomidateinduced myoclonus during anesthetic induction.
Keywords: Dexmedetomidine; Etomidate; Myoclonus.
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Corresponding Author
Dr. Priyanka Dixit
Dept of Anaesthesia, SP Medical College and Associated Group of Hospitals, Bikaner, India
DOI: https://dx.doi.org/10.18535/jmscr/v6i4.24
