Table 3.

Activities of acetylcholinesterase (AChE) and butyrylcholinesterase (BChE) before (preOP), 15 min after (postOP day 0) and one day after surgery (postOP day 1) compared between patients receiving standard general anaesthesia (Placebo, n = 30) or general anaesthesia combined with perioperative dexmedetomidine (Dex, n = 26).

AChE (U/g Hb)	preOP	postOP day 0	postOP day 1
Placebo	44.80 [40.88; 48.05]	41.35 [33.43; 47.50]	43.05 [38.08; 45.63]
Dex	40.50 [36.78; 54.90]	45.00 [35.93; 53.30]	44.60 [40.23; 49.73]
P-value	0.388	0.194	0.257

BuChE (U/l)	preOP	postOP day 0	postOP day 1
Placebo	3087.9 [1871.4; 3721.2]	2511.7 [1686.1; 2889.9]	2260.1 [1876.7; 2927.1]
Dex	2511.8 [1766.2; 3418.6]	2074.4 [1436.2; 2618.1]	2474.4 [1701.4; 2874.7]
P-value	0.194	0.293	0.908

Tables show medians with interquartile ranges. P-values compare values at individual points in time between both groups with the Mann–Whitney U test.