Dexmedetomidine enhances recovery after gastrointestinal cancer surgery by protecting the endothelial glycocalyx: A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study

Table 1 Baseline characteristics of study participants, n (%)

Characteristic	DEX group (n = 55)	Control group (n = 55)	P value
Age (years)	62.6 ± 9.1	61.9 ± 10.9	0.704
Sex (male)	36 (65.5)	39 (70.9)	0.682
ASA II/III	35 (63.6)	40 (72.7)	0.413
Surgical duration (minute)	188.3 ± 29.7	189.5 ± 28.5	0.829
Blood loss (mL)	330.9 ± 59.3	338.1 ± 55.0	0.703
Hypertension	22 (40.0)	21 (38.2)	0.849
Diabetes mellitus	12 (21.8)	14 (25.5)	0.67
CAD	6 (10.9)	5 (9.1)	0.758
Tumor site (gastric)	25 (45.5)	30 (54.5)	0.446
Tumor stage I-II	31 (56.4)	28 (50.9)	0.566
Laparoscopic surgery	38 (69.1)	35 (63.6)	0.545
Hemoglobin (g/L)	124.8 ± 14.7	126.2 ± 13.9	0.589
Albumin (g/L)	38.6 ± 3.2	38.1 ± 3.4	0.436
CRP (mg/L)	6.3 ± 2.7	6.7 ± 3.0	0.483
WBC count (× 109/L)	6.8 ± 1.4	6.9 ± 1.5	0.734
Intraoperative deep hypotension	6 (10.9)	8 (14.5)	0.580
Duration of hypotension [minute, median (IQR)]	3 (2-5)	4 (2-6)	0.420
Norepinephrine use	18 (32.7)	20 (36.4)	0.290
Dose (μg/kg·minute)	0.04 ± 0.01	0.05 ± 0.02
Phenylephrine use	12 (21.8)	14 (25.5)	0.650
Total intraoperative fluid volume [mL, median (IQR)]	2450 (2100-2800)	2500 (2200-2900)	0.62
Crystalloid volume (mL)	2100 ± 450	2150 ± 470	0.59
Colloid volume (mL)	350 ± 120	360 ± 110	0.72
Blood products	3 (5.5)	4 (7.3)	0.69
Trendelenburg tilt (°)	17.5 ± 1.2	17.8 ± 1.4	0.481
Intra-abdominal pressure (mmHg)	13.1 ± 0.8	13.3 ± 0.9	0.355

DEX: Dexmedetomidine; ASA: American Society of Anesthesiologists; CAD: Coronary artery disease; CRP: C-reactive protein; WBC: White blood cell; IQR: Interquartile range.