A Prospective, Double-Blind, Randomized, Placebo-Controlled Study of Dexmedetomidine as an Adjunct to Epidural Analgesia After Thoracic Surgery

Conclusion: The authors conclude that in postthoracotomy patients, IV dexmedetomidine is a potentially effective analgesic adjunct to thoracic ED bupivacaine infusion and may decrease the requirement for opioids and potential for respiratory depression.