Effects of Different Administration Routes of Dexmedetomidine on Postoperative Sleep Quality in Patients Undergoing Thyroidectomy

September 8, 2026 updated by: Zhu Guoying, The Second People's Hospital of Huai'an

Effects of Different Preoperative Administration Routes of Dexmedetomidine on Postoperative Sleep Quality in Patients Undergoing Thyroidectomy: A Randomized Controlled Trial

Patients undergoing thyroid surgery often experience significant preoperative anxiety and show high concern about voice changes, scar formation and other related issues. Postoperative neck discomfort and dysphagia also tend to disrupt normal sleep. Dexmedetomidine activates α₂ receptors in the mesencephalic-pontine-medullary reticular formation, inhibits the release of norepinephrine, and induces a sleep state similar to non-rapid eye movement (NREM) sleep, particularly the N2 stage, which is closer to physiological sleep. This study aimed to explore the effects of intranasal spray versus intravenous administration of dexmedetomidine on postoperative sleep quality in patients undergoing thyroidectomy. By optimizing preoperative pharmacological intervention, it intends to improve patients' postoperative sleep quality, relieve pain and reduce postoperative adverse reactions, enhance recovery quality, and optimize patients' satisfaction and comfort level.

Study Overview

Status

Completed

Conditions

Intervention / Treatment

Detailed Description

This randomized controlled trial was conducted to evaluate the effects of different administration routes of dexmedetomidine on postoperative sleep quality in patients undergoing thyroidectomy. A total of 120 patients were randomized into three groups in a 1:1:1 ratio using computer-generated randomization and sealed opaque envelopes.

Group A (intranasal DEX group): 100 μg dexmedetomidine was administered via intranasal spray 30 min before surgery (alternating sprays into bilateral nasal cavities), accompanied by intravenous infusion of an equal volume of normal saline. Group B (intravenous DEX group): Dexmedetomidine 0.5 μg/kg was intravenously infused 30 min before surgery with a 10 minute intravenous loading infusion, together with intranasal spray of an equal volume of normal saline. Group C (control group): An equal volume of normal saline was administered via both intranasal spray and intravenous route 30 min before surgery.

Patients, attending anesthesiologists, and outcome assessors were blinded to group allocation throughout the study. Intraoperative anesthesia management was performed by a separate anesthesiologist not involved in data assessment to maintain blinding. All patients received routine preoperative fasting and fluid deprivation. After entering the operating room, peripheral venous access was established and invasive arterial puncture was performed. Electrocardiography (ECG), pulse oxygen saturation (SpO₂), non invasive blood pressure (NIBP), invasive blood pressure (IBP), and bispectral index (BIS) were monitored.General anesthesia was induced with rocuronium 0.6 mg/kg, sufentanil 0.5 μg/kg, and propofol 1.5 mg/kg. Following induction, tracheal intubation was performed under video laryngoscopy, and the patient was connected to an anesthesia machine for mechanical ventilation. Ventilator settings: controlled ventilation with pure oxygen at 2.0 L/min, tidal volume 6-8 ml/kg, inspiratory-to-expiratory ratio 1:2, to maintain end-tidal carbon dioxide (PetCO₂) at 35-45 mmHg (1 mmHg = 0.133 kPa). During surgery, intravenous infusions of propofol (4-12 mg·kg-¹·h-¹) and remifentanil (0.2-0.4 μg·kg-¹·min-¹) were used to maintain appropriate depth of anesthesia (BIS maintained between 40 and 60). Vasopressor agents such as ephedrine and phenylephrine were administered according to intraoperative conditions. Immediately after the operation, patients were transferred to the post-anesthesia care unit (PACU). The tracheal tube was removed once consciousness and respiration recovered satisfactorily. Ketorolac tromethamine injection was administered for rescue analgesia when postoperative pain rescue was required.

Study Type

Interventional

Enrollment (Actual)

120

Phase

  • Phase 2
  • Phase 1

Contacts and Locations

This section provides the contact details for those conducting the study, and information on where this study is being conducted.

Study Locations

  • China
      • Huai'an, China
        • The Affiliated Huaian Hospital of Xuzhou Medical University, Huai'an Second Hospital, Huaian

Participation Criteria

Researchers look for people who fit a certain description, called eligibility criteria. Some examples of these criteria are a person's general health condition or prior treatments.

Eligibility Criteria

Ages Eligible for Study

  • Adult
  • Older Adult

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

No

Description

Inclusion criteria:

  • Aged 18-65 years;
  • ASA physical status classification I-II;
  • BMI ranging from 18 to 30 kg/m²;
  • Scheduled for general anesthesia thyroidectomy for benign or malignant thyroid lesions;
  • No history of sedative or hypnotic medication within one week before surgery.

Exclusion Criteria:

  • History of sleep disturbance or psychiatric disorders;
  • Use of antidepressants, hypnotics or other sleep affecting medications;
  • Allergy to dexmedetomidine;
  • Nasal lesions or intolerance to intranasal spray administration;
  • Severe cardiac conduction block, bradycardia or hypotension;
  • Pregnant or lactating patients;
  • Complicated with severe dysfunction of heart, liver, brain, kidney or other organs;
  • Difficult airway encountered during anesthesia induction requiring modification of routine intubation strategy.o need to change the conventional intubation method

Study Plan

This section provides details of the study plan, including how the study is designed and what the study is measuring.

How is the study designed?

Design Details

  • Primary Purpose: Treatment
  • Allocation: Randomized
  • Interventional Model: Parallel Assignment
  • Masking: Triple

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm
Intervention / Treatment
Experimental: Dexmedetomidine Intravenous Group
Thirty minutes before surgery, dexmedetomidine 0.5 μg/kg is administered intravenously as a 10-minute loading dose, with an equal volume of 0.9% normal saline given via nasal spray simultaneously.
Drug: Dexmedetomidine (DEX)
Thirty minutes before surgery, dexmedetomidine 0.5 μg/kg is administered intravenously as a 10-minute loading dose, with an equal volume of 0.9% normal saline given via nasal spray simultaneously.
Drug: Dexmedetomidine (DEX)
Thirty minutes before surgery, 100 μg dexmedetomidine nasal spray was administered via alternating bilateral nostrils, with an equal volume of 0.9% normal saline pumped intravenously simultaneously.
Placebo Comparator: Control Group
An equal volume of 0.9% normal saline is administered via both nasal spray and intravenous route.
Drug: Saline
An equal volume of 0.9% normal saline is administered via both nasal spray and intravenous route.
Experimental: Dexmedetomidine Nasal Spray Group
Thirty minutes before surgery, 100 μg dexmedetomidine nasal spray was administered via alternating bilateral nostrils, with an equal volume of 0.9% normal saline pumped intravenously simultaneously.
Drug: Dexmedetomidine (DEX)
Thirty minutes before surgery, dexmedetomidine 0.5 μg/kg is administered intravenously as a 10-minute loading dose, with an equal volume of 0.9% normal saline given via nasal spray simultaneously.
Drug: Dexmedetomidine (DEX)
Thirty minutes before surgery, 100 μg dexmedetomidine nasal spray was administered via alternating bilateral nostrils, with an equal volume of 0.9% normal saline pumped intravenously simultaneously.

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Richards-Campbell Sleep Questionnaire（RCSQ）
Time Frame: Postoperative day 0
This scale was developed by Richards et al. It is a simple self-report scale specifically designed for ICU patients, widely used in sleep assessment research in critical care medicine and post-anesthesia fields. The RCSQ includes 6 items: the first 5 are core scoring items, assessing sleep depth, difficulty in falling asleep, number of awakenings, ability to fall back asleep, and overall sleep quality respectively; the 6th is an environmental noise assessment item (not included in the total score, only for reference). Each core item uses a 100 mm Visual Analog Scale (VAS): the left end is 0 points (worst state), the right end is 100 points (best state), and the score is the distance from the left end to the subject's marked position. The total score is the arithmetic mean of the 5 core items (range 0-100 points), with higher scores indicating better sleep. Clinical grading: <50 points (poor), 50-69 points (moderate), ≥70 points (good).
Postoperative day 0

Secondary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Visual Analog Scale（VAS）
Time Frame: 6 Hours Post-Operative, 12 Hours Post-Operative, 24 Hours Post-Operative, 48 Hours Post-Operative
The Visual Analog Scale (VAS) is a tool used to assess the intensity of subjective symptoms (such as pain, itching, anxiety, etc.). Through a line of fixed length (usually 10 cm), patients mark the severity of their current symptoms based on their own feelings. The scale is a horizontal straight line, with "no symptoms" (0 points) marked at one end and "the most severe symptoms" (10 points) at the other end. Patients mark a position on the line that matches their symptoms, and the rater measures the distance from the starting point to the marked position, which is converted into a score ranging from 0 to 10 points. A score of 0 means no symptoms at all (e.g., no pain), 1-3 points indicate mild symptoms (not affecting daily life), 4-6 points indicate moderate symptoms (affecting life but tolerable), and 7-10 points indicate severe symptoms (intolerable and requiring urgent intervention).
6 Hours Post-Operative, 12 Hours Post-Operative, 24 Hours Post-Operative, 48 Hours Post-Operative
Richmond Agitation and Sedation Scale(RASS)
Time Frame: 6 Hours Post-Operative, 12 Hours Post-Operative, 24 Hours Post-Operative, 48 Hours Post-Operative
The Richmond Agitation-Sedation Scale (RASS) is a widely used tool to assess the level of sedation and agitation in patients. It ranges from +4 to -5, with specific descriptors for each score: +4 indicates combative behavior; +3 is extremely agitated; +2 means agitated and restless ; +1 denotes restless but calm; 0 represents alert and calm; -1 is drowsy; -2 indicates light sedation; -3 means moderate sedation; -4 is deep sedation ; and -5 represents unarousable. This scale helps clinicians objectively evaluate and adjust sedation levels to ensure patient comfort and safety.
6 Hours Post-Operative, 12 Hours Post-Operative, 24 Hours Post-Operative, 48 Hours Post-Operative
Drug use
Time Frame: Perioperative
Record the intraoperative consumption of propofol and remifentanil, the names and dosages of intraoperative vasoactive drugs, and the postoperative consumption of rescue analgesics (including PACU).
Perioperative
Richards-Campbell Sleep Questionnaire（RCSQ）
Time Frame: Preoperative day 1，Postoperative day 1，Postoperative day 7
This scale was developed by Richards et al. It is a simple self-report scale specifically designed for ICU patients, widely used in sleep assessment research in critical care medicine and post-anesthesia fields. The RCSQ includes 6 items: the first 5 are core scoring items, assessing sleep depth, difficulty in falling asleep, number of awakenings, ability to fall back asleep, and overall sleep quality respectively; the 6th is an environmental noise assessment item (not included in the total score, only for reference). Each core item uses a 100 mm Visual Analog Scale (VAS): the left end is 0 points (worst state), the right end is 100 points (best state), and the score is the distance from the left end to the subject's marked position. The total score is the arithmetic mean of the 5 core items (range 0-100 points), with higher scores indicating better sleep. Clinical grading: <50 points (poor), 50-69 points (moderate), ≥70 points (good).
Preoperative day 1，Postoperative day 1，Postoperative day 7
The sleep data recorded by the Fitbit Charge 6 bracelet
Time Frame: Preoperative day 1，Postoperative day 0，Postoperative day 1
The sleep data recorded by the Fitbit Charge 6 bracelet includes total sleep duration, wake time, deep sleep duration .
Preoperative day 1，Postoperative day 0，Postoperative day 1
The Quality of Recovery-15（QoR-15）
Time Frame: Preoperative day 1，Postoperative day 0，Postoperative day 1，Postoperative day 7
The QoR-15 scale is divided into five dimensions: physical comfort (5 items), self-care (2 items), psychological support (2 items), emotional state (4 items), and pain (2 items), with each item rated on a scale of 0-10, and the total score ranging from 0-150, with the higher the score the better the quality of recovery, and a score of 118 and above indicating surgery.
Preoperative day 1，Postoperative day 0，Postoperative day 1，Postoperative day 7
Hemodynamic indicators
Time Frame: on operating room admission (T0), immediately before intubation (T1), immediately after intubation (T2), at skin incision (T3), 30 min after surgical commencement (T4), at the end of surgery (T5), and immediately before extubation (T6).
The perioperative blood pressure, heart rate (HR) and mean arterial pressure (MAP) are important hemodynamic indicators for evaluating the patient's perioperative condition.
on operating room admission (T0), immediately before intubation (T1), immediately after intubation (T2), at skin incision (T3), 30 min after surgical commencement (T4), at the end of surgery (T5), and immediately before extubation (T6).
Time
Time Frame: Perioperative
emergence time, PACU stay duration and hospital length-of-stay were recorded.
Perioperative
Adverse Reaction
Time Frame: 48 Hours After Surgery
Record adverse reactions such as hypotension, bradycardia, nausea and vomiting, dizziness, hoarseness, postoperative hemorrhage, dysphagia, xerostomia, and nasal dryness.
48 Hours After Surgery

Collaborators and Investigators

This is where you will find people and organizations involved with this study.

Sponsor

The Second People's Hospital of Huai'an

Investigators

  • Principal Investigator: Jun Wang, The Second People's Hospital of Huai'an

Publications and helpful links

The person responsible for entering information about the study voluntarily provides these publications. These may be about anything related to the study.

General Publications

Study record dates

These dates track the progress of study record and summary results submissions to ClinicalTrials.gov. Study records and reported results are reviewed by the National Library of Medicine (NLM) to make sure they meet specific quality control standards before being posted on the public website.

Study Major Dates

Study Start (Actual)

January 5, 2026

Primary Completion (Actual)

June 30, 2026

Study Completion (Actual)

June 30, 2026

Study Registration Dates

First Submitted

May 13, 2026

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

May 27, 2026

First Posted (Actual)

June 3, 2026

Study Record Updates

Last Update Posted (Actual)

September 11, 2026

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

September 8, 2026

Last Verified

September 1, 2026

More Information

Terms related to this study

Additional Relevant MeSH Terms

Other Study ID Numbers

  • 0009-0001-3762-5246

Drug and device information, study documents

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product

No

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product

No

This information was retrieved directly from the website clinicaltrials.gov without any changes. If you have any requests to change, remove or update your study details, please contact register@clinicaltrials.gov. As soon as a change is implemented on clinicaltrials.gov, this will be updated automatically on our website as well.

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