Effects of dexmedetomidine on plasma brain derived neurotrophic factor and cognitive dysfunction in patients with meningiomas

  Objective  To investigate the effect of dexmedetomidine on plasma levels of brain derived nerve growth factor (BDNF) and cognitive dysfunction in patients with meningioma.

  Methods  A total of 120 patients with meningioma were randomly divided into control group (normal saline) and observation group (dexmedetomidine), with 60 cases in each group. Mean arterial pressure (MAP), blood oxygen saturation (SpO₂), heart rate (HR), and respiratory rate at 12 h (T₃), 48 h (T₄), 3 d (T₅) and 7 d (T₆) after extubation were compared between the two groups. BDNF changes at 30 min of intubation (T₂), T₃, T₄, T₅ and T₆ in the two groups were statistically analyzed. The cognitive function changes of the two groups were evaluated before operation (T₁), 8 d (T₇), 14 d (T₈), 20 d (T₉), 24 d (T₁₀), and 1 month (T₁₁) of extubation.

  Results  The MAP and HR in the observation group were significantly lower than those in the control group at T₃, T₄, T₅ and T₆ (P < 0.05). Compared with T₂, BDNF levels were significantly increased at T₄ and T₅ in the two groups (P < 0.05); the T₆ BDNF level in the observation group was significantly increased, and was significantly higher than that in the control group (P < 0.05). Compared with T₁, the Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE) scores and Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA) scores at time points from T₇ to T₁₁ in the control group were significantly decreased (P < 0.05); the MMSE and MoCA scores significantly decreased at time points from T₇ to T₉, and the MMSE as well as MOCA scores significantly increased at T₁₀ and T₁₁ in the observation group (P < 0.05). The MMSE and MoCA scores at T₁₀ and T₁₁of the observation group were significantly higher than those of the control group (P < 0.05).

  Conclusion  Dexmedetomidine has a good sedative effect in neurosurgery and can significantly improve the cognitive function of patients.