Abstract:Objective To investigate the effect of intranasal dexmedetomidine combined with propofol on the fast track recovery of elderly patients undergoing painless colonoscopy. Methods Sixty elderly patients undergoing painless colonoscopy were randomly divided into experimental group (group D) and control group (group C), 30 patients in each group. Group D was given 1?μg/kg dexmedetomidine nasal drops 30 minutes before examination, while the control group was given the same amount of normal saline nasal drops. 2.0?mg/kg propofol was injected slowly 5 minutes before the examination in both groups. After the eyelash reflex disappeared, colonoscopy was started, and 20 to 30 mg propofol was added according to the physical movement during the operation. The five time points were selected, including before nasal drip (T0), 30 minutes after nasal drip (T1), disappearance of eyelash reflex (T2), 5 minutes after examination (T3), and at the end of operation (T4). The mean arterial pressure (MAP), heart rate (HR), and pulse oxygen saturation (SpO2) were recorded. The dosage of propofol during operation, recovery time, intraoperative adverse reactions, VAS score after awaking, and Ramsay sedation score were recorded. Results Compared with T0, MAP in group C increased significantly at T3 and T4 (P?0.05). Compared with group C, MAP in group D at T3 and T4 was significantly decreased (P?0.05). The rate of perioperative hypertension, tachycardia, physical movement, and cough in group D were reduced (P?0.05). The recovery time and dosage of propofol in group D decreased, compared with those in group C (P?0.05). Conclusion 1?μg/kg intranasal dexmedetomidine at 30 minutes before operation can reduce the dosage of propofol in painless colonoscopy for elderly patients, with fewer adverse reactions and shorter the recovery time, which can promote fast track recovery.