Dexmedetomidine for prevention of postoperative pulmonary complications in patients after oral and maxillofacial surgery with fibular free flap reconstruction:a prospective, double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled trial

Table 4 Primary and Secondary Outcomes

Outcome	Dexmedetomidine group	Placebo group	Relative risk	P value
Outcome	(n = 80)	(n = 80)	(95% CI)	P value
Primary outcome, No. (%)
Overall incidence of PPCs	18 (22.5)	32(40.0)	0.563 (0.346–0.916)	0.017
Respiratory infection	14 (17.5)	19 (23.8)	0.737 (0.398–1.356)	0.329
Respiratory failure	3 (3.8)	7 (8.8)	0.429 (0.115–1.599)	0.191
Pleural effusion	0 (0)	2 (2.5)	–	0.155
Atelectasis	1 (1.3)	5 (6.3)	0.200 (0.024–1.674)	0.096
Pneumothorax	0 (0)	0 (0)	–	–
Bronchospasm	0 (0)	1 (1.3)	–	0.316
Aspiration pneumonitis	0 (0)	0 (0)	–	–
Pulmonary edema	1 (1.3)	2 (2.5)	0.500(0.046–5.404)	0.560
Pulmonary embolism	1 (1.3)	1 (1.3)	1.000 (0.064–15.712)	1.000
Acute respiratory distress syndrome	1 (1.3)	0 (0)	–	0.316
Secondary outcome, No. (%)
The time to first diagnosis of PPCs ^a	4 (2, 5)	3 (2, 5)	–	0.928
The number of PPCs ^b
0.00	62 (77.5)	48 (60.0)	–	–
1.00	15 (18.8)	27 (33.8)	0.541 (0.314–0.933)	0.023
2.00	3 (3.8)	5 (6.3)	0.489 (0.123–1.954)	0.300
postoperative extrapulmonary complications ^c
Delirium	1 (1.3)	4 (5.0)	0.250 (0.029–2.188)	0.173
Anemia ^d	3 (3.8)	2 (2.5)	1.500 (0.258–8.737)	0.650
Extrapulmonary infection	2 (2.5)	4 (5.0)	0.500(0.094–2.653)	0.405
Need secondary surgery ^e	4 (5.0)	6 (7.5)	0.667 (0.196–2.273)	0.514
Adverse events
Bradycardia ^f	2 (2.5)	2 (2.5)	–	1
Hypotension ^g	2 (2.5)	3 (3.8)	0.667 (0.114–3.883)	0.650
Length of stay in hospital after surgery, median (IQR), day	9 (8, 11)	10 (9, 11)	–	0.036
30-day all-cause mortality	0(0.0)	0(0.0)	–	1

Abbreviations: PPCs Postoperative pulmonary complications
^a Indicated the time from end of surgery to first diagnosis of PPCs within 7 days after surgery
^b Indicated the number of diagnosed individual PPCs within 7 days after surgery
^c Defined as complications other than PPCs that occur during operation and within 7 days after surgery, and require therapeutic intervention
^d Defined as hemoglobin less than 9 g/dL
^e Included hematoma or vascular crisis exploration within 7 days after surgery
^f Defined as heart rate less than 50 beats/min or a decrease of more than 20% from baseline
^g Defined as systolic blood pressure less than 90 mmHg or a decrease of more than 20% from baseline

ISSN: 1471-2253