Dexmedetomidine vs. Remifentanil Conscious Sedation for Stapedotomy/Stapedectomy

Otosclerosis has a disabling character through progressive hearing reduction. The etiopathogenetic process consists of osteodystrophy degeneration of the otic capsule, leading to decreased mobility of the stapes bone of the middle ear and causing conductive or mixed hearing loss. It is relatively common in ENT (ear, nose and throat) pathology, generally affecting young adults with a 4:1 ratio between women and men. Treatment is surgical by stapedotomy or stapedectomy and placement of a Teflon prosthesis designed to restore the vibratory capacity of the ossicular complex of the middle ear. Anesthetic management consists, depending on institutional custom, surgeon, or patient preference, in general anesthesia or, relatively frequently, monitored anesthesia care alongside local anesthesia. There is no specific regional anesthesia technique for middle ear interventions because the ear exhibits heterogeneous sensory innervation containing branches from the cervical plexus and cranial nerves V, VII, and X. Local anesthesia consists of circular infiltration of the ear canal and association with an effective sedation technique is indispensable for patient and operator comfort. The objectives of sedation are:

• An immobile operating field.
• Minimal bleeding.
• Hemodynamic and respiratory stability.
• Reducing the risk of postoperative nausea and vomiting.
• Patient comfort. The significant advantage of conscious sedation over general anesthesia or deep sedation is the possibility of real-time feedback from the patient in case of vertigo or for hearing testing after fitting the prosthesis. Deep sedation may also produce an uncooperative patient with involuntary movements or upper airway obstruction under conditions of problematic access to the cephalic extremity that may compromise the operating field.

Dexmedetomidine is a selective alpha-2 adrenergic receptor agonist that appeared in clinical anesthetic practice relatively recently, with sedative effects, reduction of required opioid doses, reduced frequency of delirium and agitation, perioperative sympathicolysis, cardiovascular stabilizing impact and preservation of respiratory function.

Remifentanil is a synthetic, potent, ultrashort-lived opioid used for postoperative analgesia, sedation, or general anesthesia.

The objective of this study is to compare dexmedetomidine (continuous infusion) to remifentanil (target-controlled infusion according to the Minto model) for monitored anesthesia care of a cohort of patients with otosclerosis presenting for stapedectomy/stapedotomy at the ENT Clinic - Cluj County Clinical Emergency Hospital.