Effect of dexmedetomidine administration on malondialdehyde levels in lower extremity surgery using tourniquets

Introduction: The use of a tourniquet in lower extremity surgery can help surgeons optimize the surgical field. However, tourniquet inflation may create ischemic conditions in the extremity, and tourniquet deflation may pose a risk of ischemic reperfusion injury (IRI). Ischemic conditions can increase the production of reactive oxidative stress (ROS), which, if it occurs simultaneously with IRI, will produce malondialdehyde (MDA), a toxic metabolite. The prolonged use of tourniquets can cause damage to the local skin tissue at the tourniquet inflation and poses a risk of IRI to other organs. This study aims to observe the effect of dexmedetomidine administration on malondialdehyde levels in lower extremity surgery using tourniquets. Methods: This study is an observational study with a prospective cohort design to measure malondialdehyde levels in lower extremity surgery using tourniquets. When the data were normally distributed, a statistical test was performed using an independent sample t-test to compare the demographic data of the two groups. To compare the results of the observation after the induction, 15 and 120 minutes after the release of the tourniquets, a repeated measures ANOVA was performed when the data were normally distributed. Then, to examine the correlation between variables, Spearman’s correlation test was applied when the data were not normally distributed. Results: In this study, almost all the subjects in the isoflurane and dex-iso groups had no significantly different characteristics, and also showed no effect of tourniquet pressure on malondialdehyde levels. Conclusion: Based on statistical analysis and discussion of the effect of dexmedetomidine administration on malondialdehyde levels in lower extremity surgery using tourniquets, it can be concluded that there was no statistically significant effect of dexmedetomidine administration on malondialdehyde levels in lower extremity surgery using tourniquets.