Abstract:
Objective To evaluate the dose-response relationship of dexmedetomidine-sufentanil combined anesthesia in elderly patients undergoing surgery for trochanteric fractures of the femur and its impact on postoperative cognitive function.
Methods Using a random number table, 267 elderly patients with trochanteric fractures of the femur admitted to Shandong Wendeng Osteopathic Hospital from October 2022 to December 2023 were divided into Group A, B, and C, with 89 patients in each group. Each group respectively received anesthesia with different doses of dexmedetomidine(0.25, 0.50 and 1.00 μg·kg
-1) combined with sufentanil. The analgesic effects, inflammatory indicators, cognitive function, and adverse reactions were compared among the groups.
Results The postoperative visual analogue scale(VAS) scores in all three groups showed a trend of an initial increase followed by a decrease, peaking at 12 h after surgery. There were statistically significant differences among the time points within each group(two-sided
P < 0.05). At 2, 6 and 12 h after surgery, the VAS scores were Group A > Group B > Group C(one-sided
P < 0.025). At 24 h after surgery, there were no statistically significant differences in VAS scores among the groups(two-sided
P < 0.05). At 48 h after surgery, the levels of C-reactive protein(CRP), tumor necrosis factor-α(TNF-α), and interleukin-10(IL-10) in all three groups were higher than preoperative levels(one-sided
P<0.025). The comparison of CRP, TNF-α and IL-10 levels at 48 h after surgery among three groups showed that Group A > Group B > Group C(one-sided
P < 0.025). The scores of the Montreal cognitive assessment scale(MoCA) and mini-mental state examination(MMSE) at 24 and 72 h after surgery were lower than those before surgery in all three groups(one-sided
P < 0.025). But the MoCA and MMSE scores at all time point after surgery in Group C were higher than those in Groups A and B, with Group A having the lowest scores(one-sided
P<0.025). The overall incidence of adverse reactions in Group C was significantly higher than that in Group A and B(two-sided
P<0.05).
Conclusion Dexmedetomidine 1.0 μg·kg
-1 combined with sufentanil effectively alleviates postoperative pain, reduces inflammatory responses, and improves cognitive function in elderly patients with trochanteric fracture of the femur. However, considering the incidence of adverse events postoperatively, dexmedetomidine 0.50 μg·kg
-1 is safer.