SynthesisJournal of clinical anesthesia2024
Dexmedetomidine improves pulmonary outcomes in thoracic surgery under one-lung ventilation: A meta-analysis.
Synthesis in Journal of clinical anesthesia, 2024. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 9 papers, 1 of them a synthesis that pooled it.
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The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.
The trial behind it
Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.
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Who cites it
9 citing papers in PubMed, 1 synthesis or guideline pooled it, 11 citations in OpenAlex.
- Perioperative dexmedetomidine is associated with improved respiratory outcomes in patients undergoing cardiac surgery: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials.BMC anesthesiology · 2026Pooled it
- Dexmedetomidine reduces pulmonary complications in older patients undergoing abdominal laparoscopic surgery: a prospective, single-blinded, randomized controlled trial.BMC anesthesiology · 2026Trial
- Protective Effect of Dexmedetomidine Combined with Butorphanol on Perioperative Pulmonary Function in Patients Undergoing Laparoscopic Colorectal Cancer Resection: A Randomized, Double-Blind, 2 * 2 Factorial-Controlled Trial.Drug design, development and therapy · 2025Trial
- Analgesia for patients undergoing video-assisted thoracic surgery: a survey of Canadian thoracic surgeons.Journal of thoracic disease · 2026Article
- Comparison of systemic vascular resistance index-guided versus conventional fluid management on airway pressure, oxygenation and postoperative recovery in patients undergoing one-lung ventilation for thoracic surgery.American journal of translational research · 2026Article
- Post-Operative Delirium in Elderly Patients: A Narrative Review.International journal of molecular sciences · 2025Review
- Alveolar macrophages polarization switch via αInflammation research : official journal of the European Histamine Research Society ... [et al.] · 2025Article
- Perioperative Dexmedetomidine Exposure and One-Year Mortality Risk After Video-Assisted Thoracoscopic Surgery: A Multi-Institutional Study.Drug design, development and therapy · 2025Article
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Authors and funding
6 authors at 5 institutions in 4 countries.
Funding
Abstract
introductionDexmedetomidine improves intrapulmonary shunt in thoracic surgery and minimizes inflammatory response during one-lung ventilation (OLV). However, it is unclear whether such benefits translate into less postoperative pulmonary complications (PPCs). Our objective was to determine the impact of dexmedetomidine on the incidence of PPCs after thoracic surgery.
methodsMajor databases were used to identify randomized trials that compared dexmedetomidine versus placebo during thoracic surgery in terms of PPCs. Our primary outcome was atelectasis within 7 days after surgery. Other specific PPCs included hypoxemia, pneumonia, and acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS). Secondary outcome included intraoperative respiratory mechanics (respiratory compliance [Cdyn]) and postoperative lung function (forced expiratory volume [FEV1]). Random effects models were used to estimate odds ratios (OR).
resultsTwelve randomized trials, including 365 patients in the dexmedetomidine group and 359 in the placebo group, were analyzed in this meta-analysis. Patients in the dexmedetomidine group were less likely to develop postoperative atelectasis (2.3% vs 6.8%, OR 0.42, 95%CI 0.18-0.95, P = 0.04; low certainty) and hypoxemia (3.4% vs 11.7%, OR 0.26, 95%CI 0.10-0.68, P = 0.01; moderate certainty) compared to the placebo group. The incidence of postoperative pneumonia (3.2% vs 5.8%, OR 0.57, 95%CI 0.25-1.26, P = 0.17; moderate certainty) or ARDS (0.9% vs 3.5%, OR 0.39, 95%CI 0.07-2.08, P = 0.27; moderate certainty) was comparable between groups. Both intraoperative Cdyn and postoperative FEV1 were higher among patients that received dexmedetomidine with a mean difference of 4.42 mL/cmH
conclusionDexmedetomidine administration during thoracic surgery may potentially reduce the risk of postoperative atelectasis and hypoxemia. However, current evidence is insufficient to demonstrate an effect on pneumonia or ARDS.
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