Application value of dexmedetomidine in anesthesia for elderly patients undergoing radical colon cancer surgery

Colon cancer presents a substantial risk to the well-being of elderly people worldwide. With advancements in medical technology, surgical treatment has become the primary approach for managing colon cancer patients. However, due to age-related physiological changes, especially a decline in cognitive function, older patients are more susceptible to the effects of surgery and anesthesia, increasing the relative risk of postoperative cognitive dysfunction (POCD). Therefore, in the surgical treatment of elderly patients with colon cancer, it is of paramount importance to select an appropriate anesthetic approach to reduce the occurrence of POCD, protect brain function, and improve surgical success rates.

To explore the value of dexmedetomidine (Dex) in anesthesia for elderly patients undergoing radical colon cancer surgery.

One hundred and seventeen patients with colon cancer who underwent elective surgery under general anesthesia were selected and divided into two groups: A and B. Group A received Dex before anesthesia induction, and B group received an equivalent amount of normal saline. Changes in the mini-mental state examination, regional cerebral oxygen saturation (rSO2), bispectral index, glucose uptake rate (GluER), lactate production rate (LacPR), serum S100β and neuron-specific enolase (NSE), POCD, and adverse anesthesia reactions were compared between the two groups.

Surgical duration, duration of anesthesia, and intraoperative blood loss were comparable between the two groups (P > 0.05). The overall dosage of anesthetic drugs used in group A, including propofol and remifentanil, was significantly lower than that used in group B (P < 0.05). Group A exhibited higher rSO2 values at the time of endotracheal intubation, 30 min after the start of surgery, and immediately after extubation, higher GluER values and lower LacPR values at the time of endotracheal intubation, 30 min after the start of surgery, immediately after extubation, and 5 min after extubation (P < 0.05). Group A exhibited lower levels of serum S100β and NSE 24 h postoperatively and a lower incidence of cognitive dysfunction on the 1st and 5th postoperative days (P < 0.05).

The use of Dex in elderly patients undergoing radical colon cancer surgery helps maintain rSO2 Levels and reduce cerebral metabolic levels and the incidence of anesthesia- and surgery-induced cognitive dysfunction.