Abstract:Objective To observe the effect of Dexmedetomidine on anesthesia induction and outcomes in patients undergoing off-pump coronary artery bypass grafting. Methods A total of 61 ASA grade II or III patients scheduled for elective off-pump coronary artery bypass grafting (Off-pump CABG) were randomly allocated to receive Dexmedetomidine (group D, 31 cases) or normal saline (group C, 30 cases) before anesthesia induction. The patients in the group D received intravenous infusion of 0.6 μg/kg Dexmedetomidine 15 min before anesthesia induction, followed by 0.4 μg/(kg?h) continuous infusion until the end of surgery. The patients in the group C received an equal volume of saline infusion. Midazolam 0.02 mg/kg was used for anesthesia induction, the Propofol targetcontrolled infusion (TCI) concentration was initially set to 1.0 μg/ml, and increased by 0.3 μg/ml every 1 min until loss of consciousness (LOC), then Sufentanil 0.8-1.0 μg/kg and Rocuronium 0.6-0.9 mg/kg were given for intubation. HR, MAP, SV, CO, CI and BIS were recorded at the time of baseline (T0), 15 min after loading dose (T1), loss of consciousness (T2), before endotracheal intubation (T3), and 1, 3 and 5 min after endotracheal intubation (T4, T5 and T6). The TCI effect-site concentration and total dosage of Propofol and vasoactive drug dosage were recorded at T2, T3, T6 and at the end of the operation. Postoperative recovery time, extubation time, ICU stay duration and hospitalization time were also recorded. Results Compared with the group C, the effect-site concentration of Propofol TCI and the dosage of Propofol were decreased at T2, T3, T6 and at the end of the operation (P < 0.05), the dosages of vasoactive drugs in anesthesia induction were also decreased (P < 0.05). In the group C, hemodynamic parameters were elevated at T4 compared with those at T3 (P < 0.05). In the group D the hemodynamic parameters at T4-T6 were not significantly different from those at T3 (P > 0.05). The ICU stay and the hospitalization time of the group D were significantly shorter than those in the group C (P < 0.05). There was no significant difference in the extubation time between the two groups (P > 0.05). Conclusions Dexmedetomidine can reduce the effect-site concentration of Propofol TCI, Propofol dosage and the dosages of vasoactive drugs, maintain the stability of hemodynamics during anesthesia induction in the patients undergoing off-pump coronary artery bypass grafting, moreover, it has a positive impact on the outcome by shortening ICU stay and hospitalization days.