Comparison of the Effect of Caffeine and Doxapram on Respiratory and Hemodynamic Parameters of Patients Admitted to the Intensive Care Unit after Spinal Surgery

Abstract

Background: The present study was conducted to compare the effects of caffeine and doxapram on respiratory and hemodynamic parameters of patients admitted to the intensive care unit after spine surgery. Methods: The current study is a randomized clinical trial that was performed on patients who are candidates for spine surgery at Al-Zahra Hospital in Isfahan. 90 patients who were candidates for spine surgery were divided into three groups of 30 with doxapram, caffeine, and placebo using the block randomization method (with 9 blocks). Hemodynamic variables, number of apneas, duration of apnea, and the time interval between recurrence of apnea were monitored and recorded every 6 hours to 48 hours after surgery. Findings: The mean percentage of oxygen saturation, diastolic blood pressure, and heart rate did not show a significant difference between the three groups. However, systolic blood pressure was significantly higher in the control group. The mean number of apneas in patients and also the mean duration of apnea in the doxapram group were lower. In this regard, the time interval between the recurrence of apnea in the doxapram group was more than the other two treatment groups. Conclusion: Doxapram had a stronger effect than caffeine in reducing the parameters of apnea duration and its number; it was also able to improve the time interval between them. © 2023 Isfahan University of Medical Sciences(IUMS). All rights reserved.