EXPLORING THE ROLE OF DEXMEDETOMIDINE IN GASTRIC CANCER SURGERY ANESTHESIA: IMPLICATIONS FOR POSTOPERATIVE RECOVERY AND INFLAMMATORY RESPONSE IN ATHLETES

Abstract

Objective: To assess the impact of dexmedetomidine (Dex) on anesthesia for gastric cancer surgery, particularly its influence on inflammatory markers, and explore the implications for postoperative recovery in athletes. Methods: This study included 78 gastric cancer patients at our hospital from January 2020 to September 2023, who were undergoing general intravenous anesthesia. Patients were randomly divided into two groups: a conventional group receiving a pre-anesthetic infusion of 0.9% sodium chloride, and a Dex group receiving 1μg/kg Dex intravenously 10 minutes before anesthesia induction. Variables compared between groups included hemodynamics, serum levels of IL-1β, IL-6, TNF-α, CRP, doses of propofol and remifentanil, and the incidence of adverse reactions at various time points. Results: Initial comparisons of mean arterial pressure (MAP), heart rate (HR), and serum inflammatory markers between the groups showed no significant differences (P>0.05). However, during the intraoperative period (T1, T2, T3), the Dex group exhibited lower MAP and HR than the conventional group (P<0.05). Postoperative inflammatory markers (IL-1β, IL-6, TNF-α, and CRP) in the Dex group were significantly reduced compared to the conventional group at times T4 and T5 (P<0.05). Additionally, the Dex group required lower doses of propofol and remifentanil (P<0.05). The incidence of adverse reactions was lower in the Dex group (5.13%) compared to the conventional group (10.26%), although this was not statistically significant (P>0.05). Conclusion: Dexmedetomidine enhances hemodynamic stability during gastric cancer surgery, reduces the need for anesthetic agents, and diminishes postoperative inflammation, thereby potentially facilitating quicker and safer recovery for athletes undergoing major surgeries. These findings underscore the benefits of Dex in reducing systemic inflammatory responses, crucial for athletes' recovery and return to training.