Epidural Anesthesia with Lidocaine and Dexmedetomidine, Versus Lidocaine Alone on Plasma Levels of IL-6 in Patients with Proximal Femoral Fracture

Background: Interleukin-6 (IL-6) plays an important role in inflammatory. Epidural anesthesia is an appropriate method for controlling pain in lower limb surgeries. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of Dexmedetomidine and Lidocaine in the epidural injection by measuring IL-6 plasma levels. Materials and Methods: Fifty-two patients with lower limb fractures in two groups receiving Dexmedetomidine doses and controls for the quality of epidural anesthesia and IL-6 index. After explaining the design and obtaining informed written consent, patients were randomly divided into two groups. After 4–6 minutes of administering the test dose, patients in group RC received 5 ml of 1.5% Lidocaine solution via epidural catheter. Patients in group RD were administered 15 ml solution of 1.5% ropivacaine and 0.6 μg/kg of Dexmedetomidine. The levels of IL-6 were evaluated before surgery and 6 hours after surgery. Results: The two groups did not show a significant difference in age and level of interleukin prior to the operation. There was a significant difference in the second injection time and total drug volume between the control and intervention groups. Dexmedetomidine reduced the volume of total drug needed and increased the time interval from the first injection to the second one (p <0.001).There was also lower levels of interleukin 6 in the Dexmedetomidine group at the 6th hour after the operation. Conclusion: Dexmedetomidine does not only reduce the need for patients on the amount and frequency of analgesic drugs, but also reduces stress and cellular damage.