Abstract
To assess the efficacy and safety of dexmedetomidine (DEX) as an adjuvant to local wound infiltration anaesthesia in abdominal surgery, we conducted this meta-analysis. First, the systematic search strategy was performed on PubMed, Embase, and Cochrane Library and five randomised controlled trials (RCTs) involving 294 patients were included. Then, the outcome data were extracted from the studies and their effect sizes were calculated using Review Manager 5. As a result, the addition of DEX significantly reduced visual analogy scores at 6 hours after surgery (mean difference = -0.53[-0.82, -0.25], P < .001), 12 hours after surgery (mean difference = -0.39 [-0.73, -0.05]; P = .03), and 24 hours after surgery (mean difference = -0.20 [-0.29, -0.11], P < .001) and reduced total analgesic consumption within 24 hours after surgery (mean difference = -4.92 [-9.00, -0.84]; P = .02) compared with placebo groups. However, there was no difference in the incidence of postoperative nausea and vomiting (risk ratio = 0.68 [0.41, 1.14]; P = .14). In summary, DEX as a local anaesthetic adjuvant added for local wound infiltration anaesthesia in abdominal surgery could reduce visual analogy scores and postoperative analgesic consumption without changing incidence of postoperative nausea and vomiting.