Comparative Study on the Effects of Epidural Dexmedetomidine on Heart Rate Variability During General Anesthesia in Patients Undergoing Gastrectomy

The use of epidural dexmedetomidine decreases the anaesthetic requirements and improved postoperative pain. Dexmedetomidine is a potent and highly selective a2-adrenoceptor agonist and has sympatholytic effect. Power spectral analysis of heart rate variability(HRV) is a useful tool to assess cardiac autonomic activity. We investigated whether preemptive epidural dexmedetomidine can develop hemodynamic change and it could be identify patients by HRV.

Inclusion Criteria:

• Patients consented to spinal anesthesia were enrolled
• Patients aged 40~70 years olds undergoing gastrectomy
• No contraindication of epidural analgesia
• ASA class I and II
• Patients consented to epidural anesthesia were enrolled

Exclusion Criteria:

• Patients with hypovolemia, coagulation disorders, local infection at the site of operation, history of headache, heart diseases, and history of allergy, chronic alcohol use or abuse, anemia, congenital heart diseases, bundle block, congestive heart failure or arrythmias
• patients who had recently received sedative drugs or were under antidepressant treatment were not included in the study