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Randomized trials

Nose or vein for dexmedetomidine after tonsil surgery?

Dai C, Zhao X, Li A, et al. · Frontiers in pharmacology · 2025

Open access · cc by · source: Europe PMC

In 139 children, IV 1 μg/kg and IN 2 μg/kg dexmedetomidine both lowered peak PAED vs saline (8.3 vs 10.3), but only IV slowed heart rate and prolonged PACU stay.

Study at a glance

Design
RCT — Three-arm randomized trial of IV vs intranasal dexmedetomidine vs saline after induction for pediatric adenotonsillectomy (ChiCTR2200065404)
N
N=139 · 139 randomized children 3–10 years (IV DEX 47, IN DEX 47, control 45) after 141 screened
Population
Children 3–10 years undergoing elective adenotonsillectomy
Outcome
Highest PAED score in first 30 min after awakening; pain, awakening/PACU times, and perioperative heart rate

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Key findings

Peak PAED 8.3 (IV) / 8.3 (IN) / 10.3 (control), P<0.001 vs control, no IV–IN difference early on. IN had lower PAED at 2 h and lower pain at 2–6 h. IV had longer wake/PACU times and lower perioperative HR.

Methodology

Randomized 139 kids (3–10 y) after induction to IV dexmedetomidine 1 μg/kg, IN 2 μg/kg, or saline; primary outcome was highest PAED in 30 min after waking, plus pain, hemodynamics, and PACU time (ChiCTR2200065404).

Limitations

Single-center adenotonsillectomy results may not generalize to other surgeries or unsedated IN premedication; PAED is a scale, not long-term neurodevelopment.

How this study connects

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