MATERIAL and METHODS: A total of 208 TBI patients admitted from February 2018 to January 2020 were randomly divided into four groups as follows: control group (A), Dex group (B), But group (C), and combination of dexmedetomidine and butorphanol group (D). Four groups of patients were treated and studied clinically. Statistical analysis was performed to assess the changes in signs of life, oxygen saturation, serum neuroendocrine data, pain, and agitation scores.

RESULTS: The statistical data of signs of life and blood oxygen saturation of the four groups were compared, and the differences between group A and group D were statistically significant (p<0.05), indicating that a combination of sedative and analgesic agents at low doses could improve the signs of life of TBI patients, and the safety was relatively good. The Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS) score of the group D on the 5th day post-surgery was improved compared with the control group (A group), suggesting that the combination of sedative and analgesic agents could improve patients? consciousness. The neuroendocrine data of the combination group showed little fluctuation, indicating that a combination of sedative and analgesic agents could significantly reduce the stress response. The scores of pain and agitation in the combination group were significantly improved on the 3rd and 5th days, suggesting that the combination group was better compared with the control group.

CONCLUSION: The combination of Dex and But was more stable for the treatment of vital signs. Compared with the individual treatment groups, the patients in the combination group had a rapid improvement. The time from treatment to stabilization was shortened, and the prognosis was significantly better compared with the control group. A combination of Dex and But at low doses could significantly maintain neuroendocrine stability. Meanwhile, a combination of sedative and analgesic agents had obvious synergistic effects on enhancing sedation and analgesia as well as anti-muscle tension. Collectively, the combination of Dex and But could significantly benefit the prognosis of TBI. Keywords : Drug combination, Sedation and analgesia, Traumatic brain injury (TBI), Postoperative, Brain protection