Abstract:Objective To observe the appropriate dose of Dexmedetomidine (Dex) to improve the postoperative cognitive function and cerebral oxygen metabolism in elderly patients with hip surgery. Methods Totally 120 cases undergoing hip replacement with ASA physical status I or II, age ≥ 62 years and weight 54 to 79?kg were randomly divided into Dex group (D1, D2, D3 group) and control group (R group), The D1-D3 groups were given 1?μg/(kg?h) Dex by infusion first and continued infusion of respectively 0.2?μg/(kg?h), 0.5 μg/(kg?h) and 0.8?μg/(kg?h) to 30?mins before the end of surgery, R group received the same amount of normal saline. Serum S100β protein and Neuron-specific enolase (NSE) levels were measured before anesthesia induction (T0), immediately after operation (T1), 1 day after surgery (T2), 3 days after surgery (T3) and 7 days after surgery for (T4); and the cerebral oxygen extraction rate (CERO2) was calculated at T0, T1 and T2. The patients were assessed with the Montreal cognitive function assessment (MoCA) 1 day before surgery, 1, 3 and 7 days after surgery. The occurrence of postoperative cognitive dysfunction (POCD) was recorded. Results Compared with T0, the concentrations of S100β and NSE in serum increased significantly at T1-T3 in the 4 groups (P?0.05). Compared with R group, the concentrations of S100β and NSE in serum at T1-T4 of group D1, D2 and D3 were significantly decreased (P?0.05). Compared with T0, CERO2 decreased at the time of T1 and T2 in the 4 groups (P?0.05). Compared with R group, the CERO2 decreased at T2 and T3 in group D1, D2 and D3 (P?0.05). The MoCA scores of 1?d, 3?d and 7?d after surgery in group D1, D2, D3 were significantly higher than those in R group (P?0.05). Compared with D1 group, the MoCA scores of 1?d, 3?d after surgery in group D2 and D3 and 7 d after surgery in group D2 were higher significantly (P?0.05). The incidence of POCD in R group and group D1, D2, D3 were 12 (40%), 7 (23%), 3 (10%) and 5 (17%), respectively. Conclusions Continuous infusion of Dexmedetomidine can effectively reduce the incidence of POCD, its mechanism may be associated with the decrease of the concentration of S100β, NSE in serum and cerebral metabolic rate, with 0.5 μg/(kg?h) dose best.