Abstract

Background: To evaluate the effects of dexmedetomidine on the incidence of postoperative delirium (POD) and plasma S-100β protein levels in elderly patients undergoing hip surgery.

Methods: A total of 110 elderly patients who underwent hip surgery were enrolled in this study and grouped using the random number table method. The study group (55 patients) received 0.5 µg/kg dexmedetomidine before anesthesia induction and the control group (55 patients) received an equal dose of 0.9% sodium chloride injection before anesthesia induction.

Results: Compared with the control group, the study group had lower fentanyl and propofol consumption, shorter time to waking up, shorter time to respiratory recovery, shorter extubation time, and lower incidence of POD (p < 0.05).Mean arterial pressure, oxygen saturation, and heart rate at T₁ and T₂ were lower than those at T₀ in the control group as well as lower than those in the study group at the same time point (p < 0.05). Both groups showed higher S-100β levels at T₁, T₂, and T₃ compared with those at T₀ (p < 0.05); however, the levels were lower in the study group than in the control group at the abovementioned time points (p < 0.05).

Conclusion: Dexmedetomidine could decrease the consumption of anesthetic drugs, shorten postoperative recovery time, stabilize hemodynamics, decrease adverse reactions caused by anesthesia, and decrease the incidence of POD, which may be achieved by improving cerebral metabolism, regulating serum S-100β levels.