A prospective randomized controlled study comparing intravenous dexmedetomidine plus ketamine combination with intravenous dexmedetomidine alone for awake fibreoptic nasotracheal intubation

Abstract Background The purpose of this study was to compare the efficacy and safety dexmedetomidine versus ketamine for sedation during awake fibreoptic intubation (FOI) in patients posted elective surgeries. Ninety-eight American Society Anesthesiologists Physical Status (ASA-PS) I–II with difficult airway scheduled surgeries were enrolled after institutional ethics committee approval. Patients randomly allocated into 2 groups, i.e. 49 each group. Group D received 1 μg/kg IV over 10 min 100-mL normal saline followed by a continuous infusion at 0.5 μg/kg/h till FOI 5-mL infusion. DK saline. Further, they 15 mg as bolus 5 mL, 20 mg/h until end intubation. primary objective combination alone FOI. Vocal cord movement, sedation, coughing, facial grimace score, recall procedure, haemodynamics also compared both groups. Results Demographic data, vocal cough total drugs used, hoarseness, sore throat level comparable Haemodynamics significantly better group 2, 3, 4 D. Conclusions Addition did not improve intubating conditions, reduce or However, remain sedated when used dexmedetomidine. registered prospectively any clinical trial registry.