Table 1_Effects of multiple low-dose intranasal dexmedetomidine administration on postoperative pulmonary complications in elderly patients undergoing thoracoscopic radical resection of lung cancer: a single-center randomized controlled trial.docx

The incidence of PPCs was significantly lower in the MD group than in the NS group (9.68% vs. 22.58%, P = 0.017), with a risk ratio (RR) of 2.333 [95% confidence interval (CI): 1.173–6.317], absolute risk reduction (ARR) of 12.90%, and number needed to treat (NNT) of 7.75. Sensitivity analyses using the per-protocol population (PP) dataset yielded consistent results, confirming the stability and reliability of the primary outcome.

The distribution of severity grading of PPCs also differed significantly between the groups (P = 0.036). After Bonferroni correction, the between-group difference in PPCs severity grading was not statistically significant (corrected P = 0.072). The distribution of pneumonia also differed significantly between the groups (P = 0.029).

There were significant group effects, time effects, and interaction effects for IL-6, TNF-α, and RCSQ in the two groups after surgery (all P < 0.05). No significant between-group differences were observed in drug-related adverse events.</p>Conclusion<p>Multiple low-dose intranasal dexmedetomidine administration significantly reduces the incidence of PPCs in elderly patients undergoing radical thoracoscopic lung-cancer resection with a favorable safety profile.</p>Clinical Trial Registration<p>chictr.org.cn/showproj.html?proj=243165; identifier ChiCTR2400090593.</p>