• Hao Guo, Tingting Ao, Jiagao Wang, Xi Zhang, Junwei Zheng, Yun Xiao, Rui Xue, Prakash Kalika, and Ran Ran.
• Department of Anesthesiology, Renmin Hospital, Hubei University of Medicine, Shiyan, Hubei, China.
• Clin J Pain. 2022 Feb 3; 38 (4): 264270264-270.

ObjectivesThe aim of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of perioperative dexmedetomidine (DEX) combined with lidocaine intravenous infusion on relieving postoperative pain and improving recovery for patients undergoing thyroidectomy.Materials And MethodsA total of 138 patients undergoing thyroidectomy with general anesthesia were randomly divided into 4 groups: lidocaine (1.5 mg/kg bolus followed by 2 mg/kg/h infusion) in the group L, DEX (0.5 µg/kg) in the group D, lidocaine (same as the group L) with DEX (0.5 µg/kg) in the group L+D, and placebo as normal saline in the group C. All drugs were infused until the end of the surgery. The visual analog scale (VAS) scores of patients at 1, 4, 8, 12, and 24 hours following surgery, opioid requirement, propofol consumption, incidence of postoperative nausea and vomiting, awaking time, hemodynamic variables, and any adverse effects were assessed.ResultsCompared with the group C, the VAS scores in the group L+D were significantly lower until 8 hours after surgery (P<0.05), while the VAS scores were significantly decreased just until 4 hours in the group L and 1 hour in the group D after surgery (P<0.05). There was no significant difference in opioid consumption between 4 groups. Propofol consumption in the group L+D was significantly lower than other groups (P<0.05). Compared with the group C, the incidence of postoperative nausea and vomiting in the group L+D was lower (P<0.05), and awaking time in the group L+D and the group L was shorter (P<0.05).ConclusionDEX combined with lidocaine infusion can effectively attenuate the postoperative pain without any serious adverse events, which may improve postoperative recovery in patients undergoing thyroidectomy.Copyright © 2022 Wolters Kluwer Health, Inc. All rights reserved.

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