Effects of ultrasound-guided transversus abdominis plane block with combined dexmedetomidine and dexamethasone on the stress and immune function

Abstract Background Ultrasound-guided transversus abdominis plane (TAP) block is widely used to provide effective postoperative analgesia and facilitate enhanced recovery after laparoscopic radical colectomy. However, the duration of TAP block is often limited by the pharmacokinetics of local anesth...

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Main Authors: Changsheng Su, Guoshao Zhu, Zhenming Kang, Shunyuan Li, Wenqin Xie
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: BMC 2025-08-01
Series:BMC Anesthesiology
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Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1186/s12871-025-03255-z
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author Changsheng Su
Guoshao Zhu
Zhenming Kang
Shunyuan Li
Wenqin Xie
author_facet Changsheng Su
Guoshao Zhu
Zhenming Kang
Shunyuan Li
Wenqin Xie
author_sort Changsheng Su
collection DOAJ
description Abstract Background Ultrasound-guided transversus abdominis plane (TAP) block is widely used to provide effective postoperative analgesia and facilitate enhanced recovery after laparoscopic radical colectomy. However, the duration of TAP block is often limited by the pharmacokinetics of local anesthetics, and evidence regarding optimal adjuvant combinations to prolong its efficacy remains scarce. Methods In this prospective, randomized controlled trial, 160 patients undergoing elective laparoscopic colectomy were randomly assigned to four groups (n = 40 each): Control (ropivacaine alone), Dexmedetomidine group (ropivacaine + dexmedetomidine), Dexamethasone group (ropivacaine + dexamethasone), and Combination group (ropivacaine + dexmedetomidine + dexamethasone). Primary outcomes included postoperative pain scores and sufentanil consumption. Secondary outcomes included Ramsay Sedation Scores, CD4+/CD8 + T cell ratios, and serum markers of stress response. Results Compared to ropivacaine alone, both dexmedetomidine and dexamethasone as single adjuvants significantly reduced postoperative pain scores and opioid requirements (p < 0.05). The combination group exhibited the most prolonged analgesic effect, with significantly lower sufentanil consumption and higher sedation scores at 6 and 24 h (p < 0.01). Moreover, both adjuvants attenuated the postoperative decline in CD4+/CD8 + T cell ratio, and the combination group demonstrated the greatest preservation of immune function and suppression of stress-induced immunosuppression. Conclusions The combination of dexmedetomidine and dexamethasone as adjuvants to ropivacaine in TAP block provides superior and prolonged analgesia, reduces opioid consumption, and offers additional immunomodulatory benefits. This strategy represents a promising enhancement to multimodal analgesia protocols for patients undergoing laparoscopic colectomy. Trial registration The study was registered in Chinese Clinical Trial Registry (ChiCTR2200065816, 2022-11-16).
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spelling doaj-art-c6d6b53d0c4f4b3d9143f7beb812d54b2025-08-20T03:46:19ZengBMCBMC Anesthesiology1471-22532025-08-0125111010.1186/s12871-025-03255-zEffects of ultrasound-guided transversus abdominis plane block with combined dexmedetomidine and dexamethasone on the stress and immune functionChangsheng Su0Guoshao Zhu1Zhenming Kang2Shunyuan Li3Wenqin Xie4Department of Anesthesiology, Quanzhou First Hospital Affiliated to Fujian Medical UniversityDepartment of Anesthesiology, Quanzhou First Hospital Affiliated to Fujian Medical UniversityDepartment of Anesthesiology, Quanzhou First Hospital Affiliated to Fujian Medical UniversityDepartment of Anesthesiology, Quanzhou First Hospital Affiliated to Fujian Medical UniversityDepartment of Anesthesiology, Quanzhou First Hospital Affiliated to Fujian Medical UniversityAbstract Background Ultrasound-guided transversus abdominis plane (TAP) block is widely used to provide effective postoperative analgesia and facilitate enhanced recovery after laparoscopic radical colectomy. However, the duration of TAP block is often limited by the pharmacokinetics of local anesthetics, and evidence regarding optimal adjuvant combinations to prolong its efficacy remains scarce. Methods In this prospective, randomized controlled trial, 160 patients undergoing elective laparoscopic colectomy were randomly assigned to four groups (n = 40 each): Control (ropivacaine alone), Dexmedetomidine group (ropivacaine + dexmedetomidine), Dexamethasone group (ropivacaine + dexamethasone), and Combination group (ropivacaine + dexmedetomidine + dexamethasone). Primary outcomes included postoperative pain scores and sufentanil consumption. Secondary outcomes included Ramsay Sedation Scores, CD4+/CD8 + T cell ratios, and serum markers of stress response. Results Compared to ropivacaine alone, both dexmedetomidine and dexamethasone as single adjuvants significantly reduced postoperative pain scores and opioid requirements (p < 0.05). The combination group exhibited the most prolonged analgesic effect, with significantly lower sufentanil consumption and higher sedation scores at 6 and 24 h (p < 0.01). Moreover, both adjuvants attenuated the postoperative decline in CD4+/CD8 + T cell ratio, and the combination group demonstrated the greatest preservation of immune function and suppression of stress-induced immunosuppression. Conclusions The combination of dexmedetomidine and dexamethasone as adjuvants to ropivacaine in TAP block provides superior and prolonged analgesia, reduces opioid consumption, and offers additional immunomodulatory benefits. This strategy represents a promising enhancement to multimodal analgesia protocols for patients undergoing laparoscopic colectomy. Trial registration The study was registered in Chinese Clinical Trial Registry (ChiCTR2200065816, 2022-11-16).https://doi.org/10.1186/s12871-025-03255-zTransversus abdominis plane blockDexmedetomidineDexamethasoneAnaesthetizationColon cancer
spellingShingle Changsheng Su
Guoshao Zhu
Zhenming Kang
Shunyuan Li
Wenqin Xie
Effects of ultrasound-guided transversus abdominis plane block with combined dexmedetomidine and dexamethasone on the stress and immune function
BMC Anesthesiology
Transversus abdominis plane block
Dexmedetomidine
Dexamethasone
Anaesthetization
Colon cancer
title Effects of ultrasound-guided transversus abdominis plane block with combined dexmedetomidine and dexamethasone on the stress and immune function
title_full Effects of ultrasound-guided transversus abdominis plane block with combined dexmedetomidine and dexamethasone on the stress and immune function
title_fullStr Effects of ultrasound-guided transversus abdominis plane block with combined dexmedetomidine and dexamethasone on the stress and immune function
title_full_unstemmed Effects of ultrasound-guided transversus abdominis plane block with combined dexmedetomidine and dexamethasone on the stress and immune function
title_short Effects of ultrasound-guided transversus abdominis plane block with combined dexmedetomidine and dexamethasone on the stress and immune function
title_sort effects of ultrasound guided transversus abdominis plane block with combined dexmedetomidine and dexamethasone on the stress and immune function
topic Transversus abdominis plane block
Dexmedetomidine
Dexamethasone
Anaesthetization
Colon cancer
url https://doi.org/10.1186/s12871-025-03255-z
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