Patients undergoing intracranial procedures may experience severe hypertension and tachycardia due to intracranial hypertension and to increased release of adrenaline. Preventing perioperative sympathetic activity is of great importance. A common technique is using b-blockers like esmolol, which effectively block perioperative hemodynamic changes during intracranial surgery. A2 agonists, like Dexmedetomidine-Dex are now being used as a component of a balanced anesthesia during neurosurgical procedures. This study aimed to evaluate whether esmolol or dex attenuates perioperative changes in patients undergoing elective craniotomy with fast track neuroanesthesia.

Patients scheduled for elective craniotomy are randomized to receive Dex 1γ/Kg over 10 minutes following by continuous infusion of Dex 0.7γ/Kg (group D) or esmolol 500mcg/Kg over 5 min following by continuous infusion of 300mcg/Kg/min (group E). Patients in both groups are subjected to a standardized anesthesia comprising of induction with propofol, fentanyl, rocuronium, and maintained with Oxygen-air: 1/1, sevoflurane and bolus fentanyl in order to access the same level of anesthesia (BIS 40-50). The hemodynamic variables at various stages of surgery (HR-heart rate, MAP-Mean arterial pressure) and recovery characteristics are also recorded. It is also performed monitoring of cerebral oximetry (INVOS).

Inclusion Criteria:

• Patients with ASA physical status 1-3
• Glasgow Coma Scale:13-15
• Hunt-Hess: 0-3

Exclusion Criteria:

• Patients with ASA physical status >3,
• Body Mass Index (BMI) over 30,
• indication for rapid sequence induction,
• any contraindication for receiving b-blocker,
• Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS) <13,
• history of drug abuse,
• neurologic deficit or preoperatively foreseen delayed extubation,
• preoperative heart rate<45.