Objective: To evaluate the safety and efficacy of dexmedetomidine combined with sufentanil for postoperative
patient-controlled intravenous analgesia (PCIA) after transscleral diode laser cyclophotocoagulation (TDLC) in
elderly patients with glaucoma. Methods: Eighty elderly glaucoma patients undergoing TDLC were selected and
randomly divided into a SD group (n=40) and a S group (n=40) by random number table method. In SD group
(n=40), sufentanil 1.5 μg/kg, dexmedetomidine 1.5 μg/kg and tropisetron 4 mg were used for postoperative PCIA,
and sufentanil 2 μg/kg and tropisetron 4 mg were used in S Group (n=40). The corresponding drugs in saline
solution was added into 100 mL solution with electronic analgesia pump. PCIA was performed immediately after
the operation until 24 h after the operation. The basic condition and operation situation of the two groups were
observed and compared, and systolic blood pressure (SBP), diastolic blood pressure (DBP), heart rate (HR), NRS
pain score, Ramsay sedation score and non-operation eye intraocular pressure (IOP) at preoperative (T0), after
operation (T1), postoperative 6 h (T2), 12 h after operation (T3) and 24 h after operation (T4) were compared, and
postoperative adverse reactions such as nausea and vomiting, respiratory depression, restlessness and use of other
auxiliary analgesic drug were also compared. Results: There was no significant difference between two groups of
patients’ basic and surgical conditions. There was no significant difference between two groups at each time point
DBP, non-operation eye IOP and NRS score. SBP at T3 and T4, HR at T2, T3 and T4, and Ramsay score at T2 and
T3 in SD group were lower than the S group, the difference was statistically significant. There was no significant
difference in the total number of adverse reactions between two groups, but the incidence of nausea and vomiting
and restlessness in group SD were lower than those in group respectively, the difference was statistically significant
(P<0.05). There was no significant difference between the two groups in the incidence of respiratory depression,
dizziness, lethargy and the use of other auxiliary analgesics. The sufentanil usage in group SD was lower than that
in group S (P<0.05). Conclusion: PCIA with dexmedetomidine 1.5 g/kg combined with sufentanil 1.5 g/kg does
not affect the non-operation eye IOP. It can be safely and effectively applied to postoperative analgesia for elderly
patients with glaucoma after TDLC