Abstract
PURPOSE: This study aimed to investigate the effect of nebulized dexmedetomidine on postoperative nausea and vomiting (PONV) in female patients undergoing radical thoracoscopic lung cancer resection. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Patients were enrolled and randomized into the nebulized dexmedetomidine group (Dex group) and the normal saline group (NS group). The primary outcome was the overall incidence of PONV within 48 hours postoperatively. Secondary outcomes included the incidence and grade of PONV at multiple postoperative time points (T1: during PACU stay; T2: from PACU discharge to 8 hours postoperatively; T3: 8-16 hours postoperatively; T4: 16-24 hours postoperatively; T5: 24-32 hours postoperatively; T6: 32-40 hours postoperatively; T7: 40-48 hours postoperatively), postoperative sore throat (POST), Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) scores at the above time points, use of rescue analgesics and antiemetics, Quality of Recovery 15-item scale (QoR-15) scores et al. RESULTS: A total of 64 eligible patients were enrolled, with 57 completing the study. There was no statistically significant difference in the overall incidence of PONV within 48 hours postoperatively between two groups. However, the incidence of PONV and POST in the Dex group was significantly lower than that in the NS group at T2. The area under the curve of VAS in the Dex group was significantly lower than that in the NS group within 24 hours and 48 hours postoperatively. The Dex group had a significantly lower rate of rescue analgesic use and higher postoperative QoR-15 scores within 48 hours postoperatively compared with the NS group. CONCLUSION: Nebulized inhalation of 1 μg/kg dexmedetomidine preoperatively can reduce the incidence of early postoperative PONV, enhance postoperative analgesia, alleviate postoperative sore throat, and improve postoperative recovery quality in female patients undergoing radical lung cancer surgery. TRIAL NUMBER AND REGISTRY URL: Registration number, ChiCTR2400086070; https://www.chictr.org.cn/bin/project/edit?pid=235076.