dexmedetomidine and cough

Q: Dexmedetomidine can be used as a cough suppressant during post-surgery extubation?

A) True

B) False

Answer: A 

A less known effect of Dexmedetomidine is its ability to suppress cough. Remifentanil, fentanyl and dexmedetomidine are effective cough suppressants. 

Although dexmedetomidine produces dose-dependent bradycardia and hypotension, a low dose bolus of 0.5 mcg/kg over 60 seconds, five minutes before the end of surgery, reduces cough on extubation in the recovery unit.

#procedures

References:

1. Tung A, Fergusson NA, Ng N, et al. Medications to reduce emergence coughing after general anaesthesia with tracheal intubation: a systematic review and network meta-analysis. Br J Anaesth 2020.

2. Guler G, Akin A, Tosun Z, et al. Single-dose dexmedetomidine attenuates airway and circulatory reflexes during extubation. Acta Anaesthesiol Scand 2005; 49:1088.