The Role of Ketamine and Dexmedetomidine in Opioid-Sparing Analgesia

In this study, the investigator hypothesizes that by using continuous infusion of ketamine or dexmedetomidine in addition to NSAIDs, the investigator can reduce or completely eliminate opioid use in adult patients after cardiac surgery.

The anesthesia technique was composed of the following 10 steps:

1. Premedication with oral Pregabalin 75 mg the night before surgery;
2. For induction and maintenance of anesthesia: - Midazolam 0.02- 0.05 mg/kg bolus, -Fentanyl (cumulative dose 5-15 μg/kg), followed by continuousInfusion of Fentanyl; 2-3 μg/kg /h as a maintenance dose, Rocuronium: (0.6-1.0 mg/kg - intubation dose, followed by continuous Infusion of Rocuronium; 0.075-0.15 mg/kg/h as a maintenance dose, and Sevoflurane in a dose of 0.8-1.0 (MAC).
3. Ventilation: Lung protective ventilation (Vt 6 ml/kg predicted body weight, + PEEP 5, + FiO2 60%), and we conducted a recruitment maneuver in order to prevent atelectasis.
4. Monitoring: Routine monitors (ECG, SpO2, arterial line inserted using local anesthesia for pressure monitor and repeated ABG, Central line inserted after induction of anesthesia for monitoring CVP, ETCO2, core temperature through urinary catheter, and Activated Clotting Time (ACT) for monitoring of coagulation). Cerebral oximetry, and Bispectral Index (BIS) as an indicator of depth anesthesia was kept between 40 and 60. (5) Cardiopulmonary Bypass (CPB): Goal directed perfusion maintaining MAP ≥ 60, using Phenylephrine and Norepinephrine infusion. Additional propofol infusion (25 - 50µg/kg/min) was administered during CPB to maintain BIS between 40 and 60. Smooth conduct of CPB, with Mild hypothermia (28°C 32°C). Rewarming at the end of the procedure, Goal postop temperature >36 °C. (6) Perioperative Glycemic Control: Insulin infusion, and the perioperative Goal glucose ≤ 150 - 180. (7)Perioperative hemoglobin concentration: Goal hemoglobin transfusion trigger: 7.5 regardless of patient Age and Comorbidity. (8) Protamine: Post CPB protamine (heparin reversal) given up to the full dose (5 mg/kg after test dose) to return to baseline ACT. (9) Multimodal analgesia: In addition to continuous infusion of Fentanyl, at the end of the surgery, Paracetamol: 1 gm IV infusion over 15 min was administered with the sternum closure, and Surgical Incision Field Block using 30 ml of Bupivacaine 0.5% just before dressing. The patient will then be transferred intubated to Surgical ICU (SICU). (10) In SICU: Postoperative analgesia will be carried out for all groups. All patients will receive IV fentanyl via patient-controlled analgesia (PCA) with (10 µg.mL-1, with a bolus of 15 µg, and lockout 10 minutes, maximum cumulative dose of 90µ.hr-1 and no background dose). Before extubation, analgesia will be given as nurse-controlled analgesia (NCA) with the same regimen, depending on the sudden rise in HR or MABP ≥20% of the baseline. The total of 24 h. opioid consumption will be recorded.

At this step, and for opioid-sparing analgesia and sedation, using the sealed envelope technique, patients will be randomly divided into three groups: Group (K): (n=30) will receive ketamine infusion of 1-2 μg/kg/min (0.12 mg/kg/h) titrated to the desired level of sedation. Group (D): (n=30) will receive Dexmedetomidine infusion 0.1- 0.2 μg/kg/hour titrated to desired level of sedation. Group (C): (n=30) will receive fentanyl only. All hemodynamic monitors used intraoperatively are continued in SICU, and in addition, the following parameters are used to monitor the level of analgesia and sedation -During mechanical ventilation: Richmond Agitation-Sedation Scale