Effects of Different Anesthetic Techniques on Intraoperative and Postoperative Pain Levels and Cognitive Function in Patients Undergoing Hepatectomy for Liver Cancer
Effects of Different Anesthetic Techniques on Intraoperative and Postoperative Pain Levels and Cognitive Function in Patients Undergoing Hepatectomy for Liver Cancer
To evaluate the effects of general anesthesia (GA) versus combined general and epidural anesthesia (GEA) on postoperative pain, cognitive dysfunction (POCD), hospital stay, and recovery quality in liver cancer patients undergoing hepatectomy.
A retrospective analysis of 80 liver cancer patients was conducted, categorized by analgesic adequacy, pain recovery, and POCD incidence: adequate vs. inadequate analgesia (n=50 vs. n=30), favorable vs. delayed pain recovery (n=36 vs. n=44), and POCD vs. non-POCD (n=42 vs. n=38). Based on these results, a prospective study (April 2024-April 2025) enrolled patients scheduled for elective hepatectomy, assigned to the GA group (n=59) or GEA group (n=47). Primary outcomes included intraoperative analgesic consumption, postoperative VAS pain scores, MoCA cognitive scores, hospital stay length, and adverse event rates.
Compared to GA alone, combined epidural-general anesthesia provides better perioperative pain control, reduces POCD risk, shortens hospitalization, and enhances recovery. GEA is a preferable anesthetic approach for liver cancer surgery.