Intranasal Sedation With Dexmedetomidine

For patients with eye surgery and shorter surgery, sedation is a well-established method in preserved consciousness and has been successfully used for several years. We have also developed and published a valid protocol (1). Remifentanil is used in intravenous infusion for sedation and anxiolysis. Remifentanil is a descriptive analgesic, which also works partially anxiolytically. In eye surgery, it is important that the patient cooperates during the operation and should not be ashamed, as injury to the eye could occur, because the vitrectomes are performed with a fine intraocular endoscopic technique, in which the operator inserts his instruments through the whiteness into the eye. For this reason, we have not yet added additional sedatives (for example, midazolam), which is very unpredictable as regards sedation. Remifentanil is also very unpredictable and it is very difficult to control it during the operation so that the patient is saturated with satisfaction. Lately, dexmedetomidine has been successfully used in sedation for other areas of surgery (eg neurosurgery, maxillofacial surgery, ORL). It is a safe, proven, active substance with alpha 2 agonistic effect, which has not yet been used in the field of ocular surgery and has not yet published articles in this field. The substance is very suitable because it works mildly sedative and at the same time analgesic.