Dey S, et al. - In patients undergoing elective general surgeries under general anesthesia, the incidence of etomidate-induced myoclonus was compared between those who received either dexmedetomidine pretreatment or midazolam pretreatment. Also, the effects of these drugs on attenuation of stress response at laryngoscopy and intubation on induction with etomidate was studied. With dexmedetomidine vs midazolam pretreatment, a significantly lesser incidence of myoclonus was achieved. Compared to midazolam group, a greater degree of attenuation of stress response was observed in the dexmedetomidine group.

• This study was performed on 80 adult patients (18 to 60 years age) of either sex, American Society of Anestheiologists physical status I and II undergoing elective general surgeries under general anesthesia.
• These patients were randomly allocated into two groups: Group D patients received Inj. Dexmedetomidine (0.5 μg/Kg) and Group M received Inj. Midazolam (0.015 mg/Kg) in 10 ml saline over ten minutes.
• Following intravenous administration of etomidate (0.3mg/Kg), myoclonus was graded.
• At various time intervals, hemodynamic response to laryngoscopy and intubation were observed.
• Using Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) version 21.0, statistical data was analyzed.
• Researchers used Independent T Test/Mann Whitney test (for non-parametric data) to compare quantitative variables.
• They used Chi-Square test/Fisher's Exact Test to compare qualitative variables.
• A P value of < 0.05 was considered statistically significant.

• Findings demonstrated that in Group D, 22 out of 40 (55%) patients did not have any myoclonus during induction with etomidate, and none of the patients had grade 3 (severe) myoclonus.
• Out of 40 patients (47.5%) in Group M, 19 had grade 2 (moderate) and 6 patients (15%) had grade 3 myoclonus.
• Dexmedetomidine vs midazolam more effectively suppressed stress response due to intubation.