Evidence mapPaperPMID 42192514Full record

SynthesisBMC anesthesiology2026

Efficacy and safety of perioperative dexmedetomidine infusion in thyroid surgery: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials.

Ebraheem Albazee, Abdulrahman Hamad Aldousari, Bader Qasem, Yousef Almutairi, Hussain Almaqtouf, Ahmad Aldhaen, Abdullah Almaqtouf, Salah Termos

Abstract readSystematic ReviewMeta-Analysis
In one paragraph

Synthesis in BMC anesthesiology, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.

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0cells of the map it votes in
0citing papers in PubMed
field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

0 citing papers in PubMed.

No citing paper in PubMed yet.

4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

8 authors.

Ebraheem AlbazeeOtorhinolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Kuwait Institute for Medical Specializations (KIMS), Kuwait City, Kuwait. Ebraheemalbazee@gmail.com.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0003-1244-7769
Abdulrahman Hamad AldousariFaculty of Medicine, University of Jordan, Amman, Jordan.ORCID http://orcid.org/0009-0005-3940-0487
Bader QasemFaculty of Medicine, Kuwait University, Jabria, Hawally, Kuwait.ORCID http://orcid.org/0009-0002-8662-4211
Yousef AlmutairiKuwait Institute for Medical Specializations (KIMS), Kuwait City, Kuwait.ORCID http://orcid.org/0009-0008-6145-9604
Hussain AlmaqtoufKuwait Institute for Medical Specializations (KIMS), Kuwait City, Kuwait.ORCID http://orcid.org/0009-0002-0169-4668
Ahmad AldhaenFaculty of Medicine, University of Jordan, Amman, Jordan.ORCID http://orcid.org/0009-0005-0501-6428
Abdullah AlmaqtoufFaculty of Medicine, University of Jordan, Amman, Jordan.ORCID http://orcid.org/0009-0003-0903-7977
Salah TermosDepartment of General Surgery, The American University of Beirut Medical Center, Beirut, Lebanon.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0003-2262-0684

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundDexmedetomidine is increasingly used to improve perioperative stability and analgesia in thyroid surgery; however, the overall evidence regarding its efficacy and safety remains uncertain. This study evaluates whether perioperative dexmedetomidine infusion is effective and safe in patients undergoing thyroid surgery.

methodsA systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials (RCTs) was conducted using PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, Embase, and CENTRAL databases. Eligible RCTs were assessed for quality using the RoB-2 tool. The evaluated outcomes included perioperative hemodynamic parameters (i.e., mean arterial pressure (MAP), heart rate (HR)), recovery characteristics (i.e., extubation, awakening times), postoperative pain intensity, rescue analgesic requirements, length of stay (i.e., hospital, post-anesthesia care unit (PACU)), and adverse events. Outcomes were pooled as mean differences (MDs), standardized mean differences (SMDs), or risk ratios (RRs) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs).

resultsA total of 10 RCTs involving 863 patients were analyzed. No significant differences were observed in anesthesia or surgical duration. Dexmedetomidine was associated with longer extubation and awakening times. Moreover, dexmedetomidine significantly reduced MAP and HR before, during, and after extubation. Postoperative pain scores were reduced at early postoperative time points (1-2, 3-4, 6-8, and 24 h), with reduced rescue analgesia requirements. No significant differences were found in PACU or hospital length of stay. Dexmedetomidine also reduced the incidence of cough and PONV. In terms of safety, dexmedetomidine increased the risk of hypotension, while the incidence of bradycardia was not significantly different between groups.

conclusionDexmedetomidine may improve intraoperative hemodynamic stability and reduce the incidence of emergence coughing and PONV. However, findings regarding its early postoperative analgesic benefits must be interpreted cautiously due to the low certainty of current evidence. These potential benefits should be carefully weighed against observed trade-offs, including mild delays in early clinical recovery and an increased risk of transient hypotension. PROSPERO REGISTRATION: ID: CRD420261308862.

Indexed as

Analgesics, Non-NarcoticDexmedetomidineThyroid GlandHumansHypnotics and SedativesInfusions, IntravenousPerioperative CarePostoperative PainRandomized Controlled Trials as TopicAnalgesics, Non-NarcoticDexmedetomidineHypnotics and SedativesDexmedetomidineHemodynamic stabilityHypotensionMeta-analysisPainThyroid surgery

Identifiers

PMID42192514
PMCPMC13273982

What Socratic holds

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Registered trials

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the Socratic graph.