Effects of different anesthesia methods on postoperative immune function in patients undergoing gastrointestinal tumor resection

To investigate the effects of different anesthetic methods on postoperative immune function in patients undergoing gastrointestinal tumor resection. Ninety patients undergoing laparoscopic gastrointestinal tumor resection were divided into 3 groups. Patients in the GA group were anesthetized by total intravenous anesthesia. The GE group was anesthetized by general anesthesia combined with epidural anesthesia. The GN group was anesthetized by general anesthesia combined with bilateral Transversus Abdominis Plane block (TAP) and rectus sheath nerve blocks. General anesthesia is total intravenous anesthesia in all three groups. Blood samples were taken to test the changes of peripheral lymphocyte subtype analysis, and levels of plasma cortisol, epinephrine, norepinephrine. Also, the dosage of anesthetic drugs, recovery time, and visual analog scale (VAS) scores were recorded. Postoperative immune indexes, including CD4 count, CD8 count, B, and NK cells, in the GE group were significantly higher than those in NA and GA groups ( P < 0.01). Perioperative stress indices, including epinephrine levels, norepinephrine level and aldosterone level, in the GE group were significantly lower than in the GA group and GN group ( P < 0.01). The intraoperative/total sufentanil dosage and remifentanil dosage in the GE group were significantly lower than those in the GA and GN groups ( P < 0.01). The VAS scores in the GE group were significantly better than those in GA and GN groups ( P < 0.01). General anesthesia combined with epidural anesthesia attenuates the increase in inflammatory mediators. Its possible mechanisms include reducing perioperative stress response and reducing perioperative opioid use.