To explore the influences of dexmedetomidine (Dex) on anesthesia effect and safety in inguinal hernia surgery.

Using prospective research, a total of 60 patients undergoing inguinal hernia surgery in the Second Affiliated Hospital of Wannan Medical College from January 2020 to October 2022 were enrolled. According to the random number table method, they were divided into groups A and B, with 30 cases in each group. Before and during anesthesia induction, group A was given an intravenous injection of 0.9% sodium chloride, while group B was given an intravenous injection of Dex. The anesthesia effect, hemodynamic indexes [heart rate (HR), mean arterial pressure (MAP)] and oxidative stress indexes [superoxide dismutase (SOD), malondialdehyde (MDA)] in the two groups were compared. The occurrence of adverse reactions was statistically analyzed.

The total response rate of anesthesia in group B was higher than that in group A (93.33% vs 73.33%, P<0.05). Immediately after entering the room (T₀) and before anesthesia induction (T1), there was no significant difference in HR or MAP between the two groups (P>0.05). Compared with those at T₀ and T₁, HR and MAP were decreased in both groups immediately after pneumoperitoneum establishment (T₂) and after surgery (T₃), and the above indexes at T₃ were lower than those at T₂ (P<0.05). At T₂ and T₃, HR and MAP in group B were lower than those in group A (P<0.05). Before surgery, there was no significant difference in levels of serum SOD and MDA between the two groups (P>0.05). After anesthesia recovery, SOD was decreased, while MDA was increased in both groups (P<0.05). After anesthesia recovery, the level of serum SOD in group B was higher than that in group A, while the MDA level was lower than that in group A (P<0.05). There was no significant difference in total incidence of adverse reactions between group A and group B [10.00% (3/30) vs 13.33% (4/30), χ²=0.162, P>0.05].

Dex has a good anesthesia effect in inguinal hernia surgery, which can stabilize intraoperative hemodynamics and reduce the oxidative stress response, with good safety.