Evaluation of a Single Intra-operative Dose of Dexmedetomidine on Post-operative Narcotic Requirements and Pain Scores in Bariatric Surgery Patients

Detailed Summary

The purpose of the study is to determine whether a single bolus dose of dexmedetomidine administered during bariatric surgery has any effect on the amount of narcotic pain medications required by an individual after surgery. Patients who undergo weight loss surgery will be randomized into two groups - group one -dexmedetomidine group and group two- control group. Both groups will receive a standard anesthetic. Control group will receive weight based dose of fentanyl (standard narcotic pain reliever), intravenous acetaminophen (non-narcotic pain reliever), and 60ml saline. Experimental group will receive weight based dose of fentanyl (standard narcotic pain reliever), intravenous acetaminophen (non-narcotic pain reliever), and dexmedetomidine (given as 1mcg/kg over 10 minutes Intravenous). The Patient will then awaken after surgery in post anesthetic recovery unit and be given a patient controlled analgesia (PCA) pump with hydromorphone (long acting narcotic pain reliever). The amount of hydromorphone used will be recorded by the PACU nurse to the electronic health record ( routine practice) in the two groups and compared for pain medicine requirements. Secondary endpoints will be Visual Analog Score (VAS) pain score, respiratory rate, heart rate, blood pressure oxygen saturation and respiratory rate. All will be recorded at 30,60,90,120 and 240 minutes in the electronic medical record in PACU and compared between the two groups . All the data - Intra operative and Post -operative - Post Anesthesia Care Unit ( PACU) data will be retrieved from the electronic Medical record (EMR). All intra-operative data is automatically computed into the patients EMR. All PACU data is routinely entered into the EMR by the PACU nurse including the PCA data.

Study Details

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Interventions