To explore the efficacy of preoperative intranasal dexmedetomidine in children undergoing laparoscopic high ligation of the hernia sac for inguinal oblique hernia.

A total of 86 children with inguinal oblique hernia, treated at Linquan County People's Hospital from May 2020 to May 2022, were randomly divided into an experimental group and a control group, with 43 cases in each group. Both groups underwent laparoscopic high ligation of the hernia sac. The control group received 8% sevoflurane inhalation anesthesia, while the experimental group received 1.0 μg/kg intranasal dexmedetomidine preoperatively in addition to the control group's regimen. The clinical efficacy and safety of the two groups were compared.

The experimental group had shorter anesthesia induction time, awakening time, and recovery room stay time compared to the control group (P<0.05). Both groups showed an initial increase followed by a decrease in heart rate (HR) and mean arterial pressure (MAP), with the experimental group showing lower HR and MAP than the control group (F between groups=22.064, 22.508; F over time=38.542, 7.218; all P<0.001). Postoperative CHEOPS (Children's Hospital of Eastern Ontario Pain Scale) scores increased in both groups, but were lower in the experimental group (F between groups=73.731; F over time=73.142; all P<0.001). On postoperative day 1, serum C-reactive protein and interleukin-6 levels were lower in the experimental group compared to the control group (P<0.001). There was no significant difference in the incidence of adverse reactions between the two groups (P>0.05).

Preoperative intranasal dexmedetomidine in children undergoing laparoscopic high ligation of the hernia sac can enhance anesthesia and analgesia, help maintain intraoperative hemodynamic stability, reduce inflammatory response, and have good safety.