Investigating the effects of oral clonidine on hemodynamics and relaxation following brain stereotaxic surgery

Abstract

Background: Stabilized hemodynamics and appropriate sedation are necessary in brain stereotaxic surgeries. Here we aimed to investigate the effects of oral clonidine in this regard.

Methods: This is a randomized clinical trial that was performed in 2020-2021 on 87 patients that were candidates of brain stereotactic surgeries. Patients were randomized into two groups. The first group received clonidine at a dose of 0.2 mg 2 hours before the start of the operation. The second group received placebo tablets. Systolic blood pressure (SBP), diastolic blood pressure (DBP), mean arterial pressure (MAP), heart rate (HR) and SPO2 of patients were recorded in one, three, five, ten, fifteen minutes at the time of entry into recovery and every fifteen minutes in recovery room. The length of stay in recovery, dosage of atropine used, patients' and surgeon’s satisfaction, patient’s relaxation rate and frequencies of nausea were measured and compared.

Results: The SBP and MAP was significantly lower in the group receiving clonidine compared to other group at the times of 15, 30 and 45 minutes in the recovery room (P< 0.05). HR of patients in the clonidine group was significantly lower at the times of 5, 10, 15, 30 and 45 minutes (P< 0.05). Patients that received clonidine had lower atropine usage (P= 0.03), higher patient’s satisfaction (P= 0.001) and higher sedation rate in the recovery (P= 0.001).

Conclusion: Oral clonidine could significantly reduce SBP, MAP and HR and provide proper sedation in patients. Furthermore, patients that received oral clonidine had higher sedation compared to controls.