Table 3

The SRS and VAS scores among the three groups

CON groupDV groupDT groupP values
SRS (T8)4 (3–4)4 (4–5)4 (4–5)0.001
4 (3–4)4 (4–5)0.005
4 (3–4)4 (4–5)0.000
SRS (T9)5 (4–5)5 (4–5)5 (5–5)0.001
5 (4–5)5 (4–5)0.005
5 (4–5)5 (5–5)0.000
SRS (T10)6 (5–6)6 (6–6)6 (6–6)0.323
6 (5–6)6 (6–6)0.139
6 (5–6)6 (6–6)0.394
VAS (T8)3.4 (0.6)2.6 (0.8)2.8 (0.8)0.000
3.4 (0.6)2.6 (0.8)0.000
3.4 (0.6)2.8 (0.8)0.005
VAS (T9)3.1 (0.6)2.6 (0.7)2.7 (0.7)0.015
3.1 (0.6)2.6 (0.7)0.005
3.1 (0.6)2.7 (0.7)0.038
VAS (T10)3.2 (0.6)2.9 (0.7)2.6 (0.8)0.009
3.2 (0.6)2.9 (0.7)0.1
3.2 (0.6)2.6 (0.8)0.002

  • Values are expressed as mean (SD) or median (IQR). The SRS was determined according to consciousness (3=awake, 2=responds to verbal stimuli, 1=responds to tactile stimuli, 0=not responding), airway condition (2=cough on command or cry, 1=maintains good airway, 0=requires airway assistance) and motor condition (2=moves limbs purposefully, 1=non-purposeful movement, 0=not moving). The VAS score was defined on a scale of 0 (no pain) to 10 (the worst pain imaginable).

  • CON group, patients were intravenously injected with saline (20 mL) for 10 min; DT group, Dex (0.5 µg/kg, diluted in 1 mL saline) was sprayed down the patient’s intratracheal tube; DV group, patients were intravenously given Dex (0.5 µg/kg, diluted in 20 mL saline) for 10 min; SRS, Steward recovery score; VAS, visual analogue scale.