Table 1.
Characteristics of included studies.
| Study ID | Age | Surgery type | Sample size | Anesthesia | Groups | Outcome |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nidhi 2013 (12) | 8–12 Y | Corrective surgery | 36 | Sev, N2O Intubation | DEX (9): 1 ug/kg iv followed by 0.5 ug/kg/h infusion; NS (9): volume-matched iv | ABCDE |
| Bi 2019 (36) | 6–48 M | Fiberoptic bronchoscopy | 40 | Sev LMA | DEX (11):1 ug/kg intranasal; NS (11):0.01 ml/kg intranasal | ADE |
| Sun 2017 (30) | 1–5 Y | Laparoscopic hernia repair | 97 | Sev LMA | DEX1(13):0.25 ug/kg iv; DEX2(14):0.5 ug/kg iv; DEX3(14):1 ug/kg iv; NS (15):2 ml iv | ADEF |
| Boku 2015 (37) | 10–14 M | Palatoplasty | 70 | Sev, N2O Intubation | DEX (17):6 ug/kg/h for 10 min, followed by 0.4 ug/kg/h; NS (17): volume-matched iv | AD |
| Mizrak 2011 (18) | 4.5–11 Y | Strabismus surgery | 60 | Ketamine Intubation | DEX (19):0.5 ug/kg iv; Placebo (19) | AC |
| Erdil 2009 (10) | 2–7 Y | Adenoidectomy | 90 | Sev, N2O Intubation | DEX (19):0.5 ug/kg iv; Fentanyl (19):2.5 ug/kg iv; NS (19): iv | ADE |
| Guler 2005 (35) | 3–7 Y | Adenotonsillectomy | 60 | Sev, N2O Intubation | DEX (19):0.5 ug/kg iv; NS (19): volume-matched iv | ABDE |
| Cho 2020 (13) | 24 M−12 Y | Tonsillectomy | 66 | Sev Intubation | DEX (21):0.3 ug/kg iv; Midazolam (22):0.03 mg/kg iv | ABCDF |
| Li 2016 (23) | 4–6 Y | Tonsillectomy | 80 | Des Intubation | DEX (24):0.2 ug/kg/h; NS (24): volume-matched iv | ABCDF |
| Wei 2015 (9) | 3–24 M | Cleft palate repair | 40 | Sev, Propofol Remifentanil Intubation | DEX (11):0.8 ug/kg/min; NS (11): volume-matched iv | ABDE |
| Bhat 2018 (26) | 1–8 Y | Inguinal hernia | 90 | Sev, N2O LMA | DEX1(19):0.5 ug/kg iv; DEX2(19):1 ug/kg iv; NS (19):5 ml iv | AEF |
| Ahmed 2017 (15) | 3–7 Y | Tonsillectomy and/or Adenoidectomy | 86 | Sev Intubation | DEX (41):1 ug/kg intranasal; NS (41):1 ml intranasal | ABCDEF |
| Song 2016 (22) | 2–6 Y | Strabismus surgery | 103 | Sev, N2O LMA | DEX1(14):0.25 ug/kg iv; DEX2(14):0.5 ug/kg iv; DEX3v (27):1 ug/kg iv; NS (14): iv | ACDF |
| Ali 2016 (11) | 3–6 Y | Orthopedic surgery | 90 | Sev Intubation | DEX (19):0.3 ug/kg iv; Ketofol (19): ketamine 0.25 mg/kg and Propofol 1 mg/kg iv; NS (19):10 ml iv | AD |
| Mukherjee 2015 (19) | 3–7 Y | Day care surgery | 80 | Sev Intubation | DEX (24):1 ug/kg intranasal; Clonidine (24):4 ug/kg intranasal | ABCDEF |
| Liu 2015 (27) | 2–12 Y | Achilles-tendon lengthening | 80 | Sev Intubation | DEX (24):0.5 ug/kg iv; NS (24):10 ml iv | ADEF |
| Sheta 2014 (28) | 3–6 Y | Dental rehabilitation | 72 | Sev, N2O Intubation | DEX (29):1 ug/kg intranasal; Midazolam (29):0.2 mg/kg | ABCE |
| Ali 2013 (8) | 2–6 Y | Adenotonsillectomy | 120 | Sev, N2O Intubation | DEX (24):0.3 ug/kg iv; Propofol (24):1 mg/kg iv; NS (24):10 ml iv | ABDEF |
| Meng 2012 (31) | 5–14 Y | Tonsillectomy | 120 | Sev Intubation | DEX1 (24):0.5 ug/kg iv followed by 0.2 ug/kg/h; DEX2 (24):1 ug/kg followed by 0.4 ug/kg/h; lactated Ringer (24): iv | ADEF |
| Xu 2012 (32) | 3–7 Y | Vitreoretinal surgery | 60 | Sev, Remifentanil Intubation | DEX (19):0.5 ug/kg, iv; NS (19):10 ml iv | ADE |
| Asaad 2011 (33) | 5–10 Y | Elective surgery | 88 | Sev, N2O Intubation | DEX (19):0.15 ug/kg, iv; Fentanyl (27):1 ug/kg; NS (19):10 ml iv | AEF |
| Ibacache 2004 (14) | 1–10 Y | Inguinal hernia repair, orchiopexy, or circumcision | 90 | Sev, N2O LMA | DEX1(19):0.15 ug/kg, iv; DEX2(19):1 ug/kg; NS (19):10 ml iv | AEF |
| Olutoye 2011 (34) | 3–12 Y | Tonsillectomy and adenoidectomy | 109 | Sev, N2O Intubation | DEX1(23):0.75 ug/kg, iv; DEX2(32):1 ug/kg,iv;Morphine1(19):50 ug/kg iv; Morphine2(23):100 ug/kg iv | AB |
| Li 2018 (25) | 2–7 Y | Adenoidectomy with or without tonsillectomy | 90 | Propofol, Remifentanil Intubation | DEX1(19):1 ug/kg, iv; DEX2(19):2 ug/kg, iv; NS (19):1 ml iv | A |
| Kim 2014 (16) | 1–5 Y | Strabismus Surgery | 94 | Des Intubation | DEX (42):0.2 ug/kg/h; NS (42): iv | ACDEF |
| Patel 2010 (20) | 2–10 Y | Tonsillectomy and adenoidectomy | 122 | Sev, N2O Intubation | DEX (61):2 ug/kg followed by 0.7 ug/kg/h; Fentanyl (61):1 ug/kg iv | ACDE |
| Koceroglu 2020 (21) | 2–9 Y | Adenotonsillectomy | 60 | Sev, N2O Intubation | DEX (19):1 ug/kg iv; Tramadol (19):1.5 mg/kg iv | ABDE |
| Akin 2011 (17) | 2–9 Y | Adenotonsillectomy | 90 | Sev, N2O Intubation | DEX (43):1 ug/kg intranasal; Midazolam (43):0.2 mg/kg intranasal | ABCD |
| Kim 2014 (38) | 1–5 Y | Hernioplasty or orchiopexy | 40 | Sev LMA | DEX (11):1 ug/kg followed by 0.1 ug/kg/h; NS (11): same amount IV | AD |
| Shukry 2005 (39) | 1–10 Y | Outpatient surgery | 46 | Sev Intubation | DEX (13):0.2 ug/kg/h infusion; NS (13): volume-matched iv | ADF |
| Surana 2017 (40) | 6 M-12 Y | Cleft palate surgery | 60 | Iso, N2O Intubation | DEX (19):1 ug/kg followed by 0.5 ug/kg/h; Midazolam (19):0.05 mg/kg iv | ACDE |
| Tsiotou 2018 (24) | 3–14 Y | Tonsillectomy | 60 | Propofol, Remifentanil Intubation | DEX (28):1 ug/kg iv; NS (31):50 ml iv | ACD |
| Bhadla 2013 (29) | 5–12 Y | Ophthalmic day-care surgery | 60 | Iso Intubation | DEX (19):0.4 ug/kg iv; Midazolam (19):0.04 mg/kg iv | A |
A, emergence agitation; B, PONV; C, requiring rescue anesthetic; D, extubation time; E, emergence time; F, Time to discharge from the PACU; M, months; Y, years; DEX, dexmedetomidine; NS, normal saline; LMA, laryngeal mask airway; Sev, sevoflurane; Des, desflurane; Iso, isoflurane.