Analgesic effect and safety of dexmedetomidine-assisted intravenous-inhalation combined general anesthesia in laparoscopic minimally invasive inguinal hernia surgery.

Background: Currently, very few studies have examined the analgesic effectiveness and safety of dexmedetomidine-assisted intravenous-inhalation combined general anesthesia in laparoscopic minimally invasive surgery for inguinal hernia.

Aim: To investigate the analgesic effect and safety of dexmedetomidine-assisted intravenous-inhalation combined general anesthesia in laparoscopic minimally invasive surgery for inguinal hernia.

Methods: In this retrospective study, 94 patients scheduled for laparoscopic minimally invasive surgery for inguinal hernia, admitted to Yiwu Central Hospital between May 2022 and May 2023, were divided into a control group (inhalation combined general anesthesia) and a treatment group (dexmedetomidine-assisted intravenous-inhalation combined general anesthesia). Perioperative indicators, analgesic effect, preoperative and postoperative 24-hours blood pressure (BP) and heart rate (HR), stress indicators, immune function levels, and adverse reactions were compared between the two groups.

Results: Baseline data, including age, hernia location, place of residence, weight, monthly income, education level, and underlying diseases, were not significantly different between the two groups, indicating comparability (P > 0.05). No significant difference was found in operation time and anesthesia time between the two groups (P > 0.05). However, the treatment group exhibited a shorter postoperative urinary catheter removal time and hospital stay than the control group (P < 0.05). Preoperatively, no significant differences were found in the visual analog scale (VAS) scores between the two groups (P > 0.05). However, at 12, 18, and 24 hours postoperatively, the treatment group had significantly lower VAS scores than the control group (P < 0.05). Although no significant differences in preoperative hemodynamic indicators were found between the two groups (P > 0.05), both groups experienced some extent of changes in postoperative HR, diastolic BP (DBP), and systolic BP (SBP). Nevertheless, the treatment group showed smaller changes in HR, DBP, and SBP than the control group (P < 0.05). Preoperative immune function indicators showed no significant differences between the two groups (P > 0.05). However, postoperatively, the treatment group demonstrated higher levels of CD3⁺, CD4⁺, and CD4+/CD8⁺ and lower levels of CD8⁺ than the control group (P < 0.05). The rates of adverse reactions were 6.38% and 23.40% in the treatment and control groups, respectively, revealing a significant difference (χ ² = 5.371, P = 0.020).

Conclusion: Dexmedetomidine-assisted intravenous-inhalation combined general anesthesia can promote early recovery of patients undergoing laparoscopic minimally invasive surgery for inguinal hernia. It ensures stable blood flow, improves postoperative analgesic effects, reduces postoperative pain intensity, alleviates stress response, improves immune function, facilitates anesthesia recovery, and enhances safety.