The Lowest Effective Dose of Dexmedetomidine in Attenuating the Hemodynamic Responses During Skull Pin Insertion in Patients Undergoing Elective Craniotomy

Skull pins are used to immobilize the head during craniotomy. Fixation of skull pins causes acute hemodynamic changes which may affect cerebral autoregulation and hence cerebral blood flow. Therefore, maintenance of stable hemodynamic parameters during skull pin placement under general anesthesia is crucial to ensure adequate cerebral perfusion and prevention of acute rise of intracranial pressure