Abstract:Objective To evaluate the analgesic efficacy of intranasal dexmedetomidine in cases underwent thyroidectomy. Methods In this randomized, placebo-controlled, double-blind trial, 70 patients, aged 35-62 years old, weighting 38-65 kg, ASA grade Ⅰ-Ⅱ, underwent thyroidectomy, were randomly devided into dexmedetomidine group (group D) and placebo group (group P). Intranasal dexmedetomidine 30 ug or saline were given before leaving ward (T0) and PACU (T1), 6 h, 12 h, 18 h, 24 h, 30 h, 36 h, 42 h, 48 h (T2~9) after T1. Pain intensity (based on the 11-point NRS) and pain relief (based on a 5-point scale: 0 = no relief, 1 = a little relief, 2 = moderate relief, 3 = a lot of relief, 4 = complete relief) were accessed. The primary index was the difference of summed pain intensity over 48 hours (SPID48), and the secondary indexes included SPID at each evaluation time point, total pain relief (TOTPAR), pain intensity difference (PID), pain relief at each evaluation time point, hemodynamic variables and postoperative adverse events. Results Summed pain intensity difference over 48 hours was significantly higher in the group D than in the group P [(37.3 ± 6.4) vs (25.5 ± 4.1); P < 0.001]. Mean SPID and TOTPAR scores were significantly higher in the group D at every time point from 2 hour (SPID) and 3 hours (TOTPAR) until 48 hours (P < 0.05). The mean cumulative number of doses of IV morphine was statistically lower in the group D than in the group P for 24 hours or 48 hours [respectively (1.3 ± 1.5) vs (2.3 ± 2.1); P = 0.024; (3.8 ± 4.4) vs (1.8 ± 2.1); P = 0.017]. There was no difference of SBP, DBP and HR at T0, T1 between the two groups. Between group comparison of hemodynamic variables at the same time period from T2 to T9, group D had lower hemodynamic variables compared to group P (P < 0.05). Rate of postoperative adverse events including nausea, vomiting, beckoning bradycardia, excessive sedation, respiratory depression was similar in two groups (P > 0.05). Conclusions Intranasal dexmedetomidine is effective for the management of postoperative pain in patients underwent thyroidectomy. Postoperative adverse events such as nausea, vomiting showed no significant difference between two groups. Intranasal dexmedetomidine is recommend as a clinical choice for postoperative analgesia.