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

Table 4 Comparison of outcomes between dexmedetomidine and control groups, n (%)

Outcome measure	DEX group (n = 55)	Control group (n = 55)	Mean difference or OR (95%CI)	Absolute/relative effect	P value
Intraoperative fentanyl (μg)	156.9 ± 31.6	175.5 ± 42.1	-18.6 (-32.6 to -4.5)	-	0
Length of hospital stay (days)	6.49 ± 1.29	7.29 ± 1.59	-0.8 (-1.35 to -0.25)	-	0.005
QoR-15 score at 72 hours	124.3 ± 9.2	118.7 ± 8.4	5.6 (2.3-9.0)	-	0.001
Postoperative infection	4 (7.3)	9 (16.4)	OR = 0.40 (0.11-1.37)	ARR 9.1%; RRR 55.5%; NNT approximately 11	0.135
Pneumonia	2 (3.6)	6 (10.9)	OR = 0.30 (0.06-1.47)	ARR 7.3%; RRR 67.0%; NNT approximately 14	0.142
Acute kidney injury	1 (1.8)	4 (7.3)	OR = 0.23 (0.02-2.12)	ARR 5.5%; RRR 75.3%; NNT approximately 18	0.195
Ileus	1 (1.8)	2 (3.6)	OR = 0.49 (0.04-5.53)	ARR 1.8%; RRR 50.0%; NNT approximately 56	0.564
Anastomotic leakage	0 (0)	0 (0)	-	-	-
ICU admission	4 (7.3)	7 (12.7)	OR = 0.54 (0.14-2.04)	ARR 5.4%; RRR 42.5%; NNT approximately 19	0.358
30-day readmission	1 (1.8)	1 (1.8)	OR = 1.00 (0.06-16.06)	-	> 0.05
30-day mortality	0 (0)	1 (1.8)	-	ARR 1.8%; RRR 100%; NNT approximately 56	> 0.05
Overall 30-day complications	7 (12.7)	17 (30.9)	18.2% absolute risk reduction (3.1%-33.2%)	ARR 18.2%; RRR 58.9%; NNT approximately 6	0.036

Overall 30-day complications include pneumonia, acute kidney injury, ileus, surgical site infection, and other clinically significant postoperative adverse events. DEX: Dexmedetomidine; QoR-15: Quality of Recovery-15 Questionnaire; ARR: Absolute risk reduction; RRR: Relative risk reduction; NNT: Number needed to treat; ICU: Intensive care unit.