Ｏｂｊｅｃｔｉｖｅ　To observe the effect of dexmedetomidine(Dex) on intestinal fatty acid binding protein(I-FABP) in esophageal cancer patients receiving radical resection.　Methods　Forty patients undergoing esophageal cancer radical resection were randomly divided into two groups. In group D (n=20), 0.5 μg/kg Dex was intravenously infused within 10 min before anaesthesia, and was then persistently infused at the rate of 0.5 μg·kg-1·h-1. In group C(n=20), saline, instead of Dex, was infused with the same regimen as Dex. Blood samples were collected at a series of time points: 10 min before anaesthesia(T1), 10 min (T2), 1 h (T3), 2 h (T4) after the initiation of operation, 30 min before the end of operation(T5), and 2 h after operation(T6).　Results　Compared with group C, serum concentrations of I-FABP in group D were significantly lower at T3-T6[(5.66±012), (6.80±0.18), (6.42±0.70), (5.31±0.21) mg/L vs (6.15±0.35), (7.25±0.13), (6.81±0.65), (6.38±0.14) mg/L](P<0.05), similarly, urine concentrations of I-FABP significantly decreased in group D at T3-T4 and T6 [(6.23±0.15), (6.98±0.20), (5.80±0.15) mg/L vs (6.82±0.10), (7.89±0.53), (6.38±0.14) mg/L](P<0.05).　Conclusions　Dex can reduce I-FABP in esophageal cancer patients receiving radical resection, suggesting that it may have protective effects on intestinal barrier.