Background: The systemic stress response to surgery is a complex physiological process characterized by neuroendocrine, sympathetic, and inflammatory activation. While necessary for survival, this response can lead to adverse outcomes such as hyperglycemia, immune suppression, cardiovascular complications, and delayed recovery. Regional anesthesia (RA) has been shown to modulate this stress response more effectively than general anesthesia (GA) by blocking nociceptive signaling and attenuating the release of stress mediators. Objectives: This review aims to elucidate how RA influences the systemic stress response, highlighting its clinical benefits in reducing postoperative pain, improving hemodynamic stability, minimizing inflammatory responses, and preserving immune function. Additionally, this review examines evidence from clinical trials supporting using RA to improve surgical outcomes, particularly in high-risk populations. Methods: A comprehensive narrative review of the literature was conducted to explore the physiological impact of RA on the systemic stress response and its associated clinical outcomes. Studies comparing RA to GA across various surgical procedures were evaluated, focusing on neuroendocrine modulation, sympathetic inhibition, inflammatory attenuation, and the implications for pain management, cardiovascular and pulmonary function, and immune preservation. Results: RA significantly attenuates the neuroendocrine response by reducing the release of cortisol and catecholamines, thereby improving hemodynamic stability and reducing myocardial oxygen consumption. RA also inhibits the sympathetic nervous system, leading to improved cardiovascular outcomes. Furthermore, RA mitigates the inflammatory response by reducing pro-inflammatory cytokine levels, reducing the risk of systemic inflammatory response syndrome (SIRS), sepsis, and pulmonary complications. Clinical studies and meta-analyses consistently demonstrate that RA reduces postoperative pain, opioid consumption, and the incidence of cardiovascular and pulmonary complications, particularly in elderly and high-risk patients. Conclusions: RA offers a significant advantage in modulating the systemic stress response to surgery, improving postoperative outcomes by reducing pain, enhancing cardiovascular stability, and preserving immune function. Its benefits are particularly pronounced in high-risk populations such as the elderly or those with pre-existing comorbidities. Given the growing evidence supporting its efficacy, RA should be considered a critical component of multimodal perioperative care strategies aimed at minimizing the systemic stress response and improving recovery. Future research should optimize RA techniques and identify patient-specific factors to enhance therapeutic benefits.

Introduction: This study aimed to investigate pain management, functional recovery, and stress response expressed by the neutrophile-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR) and platelet-to-lymphocyte ratio (PLR) after the popliteal artery and posterior knee capsule infiltration (iPACK) block combined with adductor canal block (ACB) in total knee arthroplasty (TKA). Patients and Methods: This was a prospective, double-blinded, randomised, controlled trial in a tertiary referral hospital. Three hundred and sixty-six patients were randomly allocated into the sham block group and iPACK combined with the ACB group. The primary outcome was postoperative pain scores. The secondary outcomes were opioid consumption, functional recovery expressed by a range of motion, and quadriceps strength. Also, the neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR) and platelet-to-lymphocyte ratio (PLR) were calculated. Results: There were significant differences between the sham block and iPACK + ACB group in pain scores p < 0.0001 at all time points. Therefore, there was a significant difference in opioid consumption (p < 0.0001) and functional recovery (p < 0.0001). Also, NLR and PLR levels 12 h (p < 0.0001) and 24 h (24 h) after surgery (p < 0.0001) were much lower in the iPACK + ACB group. Conclusion: After total knee arthroplasty, the iPACK combined with ACB block group improved pain management, functional recovery, and stress response. Therefore, we strongly recommend this technique as a part of a multimodal analgesia protocol in knee surgery.

Background: Intraoperative neuromonitoring (IONM) is crucial for the safety of scoliosis surgery, providing real-time feedback on the spinal cord and nerve function, primarily through motor-evoked potentials (MEPs). The choice of anesthesia plays a crucial role in influencing the quality and reliability of these neuromonitoring signals. This systematic review evaluates how different anesthetic techniques—total intravenous anesthesia (TIVA), volatile anesthetics, and regional anesthesia approaches such as Erector Spinae Plane Block (ESPB), spinal, and epidural anesthesia—affect IONM during scoliosis surgery. Methods: A systematic review was conducted following PRISMA guidelines. PubMed, MEDLINE, EMBASE, and Cochrane databases were searched for studies published between 2017 and 2024 that examined the impact of anesthetic techniques on neuromonitoring during scoliosis surgery. The focus was on studies reporting MEP outcomes, anesthetic protocols, and postoperative neurological and analgesic effects. Results: The search initially identified 998 articles. After applying inclusion criteria based on relevance, recency, methodological quality, and citation frequency, 45 studies were selected for detailed review. Conclusion: The erector Spinae Plane Block (ESPB) provides distinct benefits over spinal and epidural anesthesia in scoliosis surgery, particularly in maintaining neuromonitoring accuracy, reducing hemodynamic instability, and minimizing complications. The ESPB’s ability to deliver effective segmental analgesia without compromising motor function makes it a safer and more efficient option for postoperative pain management, enhancing patient outcomes.

Chronic hip pain from osteoarthritis greatly diminishes quality of life, and standard treatments often fail to provide sufficient relief. Ultrasound-guided pericapsular nerve group (PENG) neurolysis using ethanol is a minimally invasive technique that may provide extended analgesia. This study evaluated the efficacy and safety of ultrasound-guided 95% ethanol neurolysis of the PENG compared with a sham procedure in patients with chronic hip pain. This double-blinded, single-centre, RCT included 100 patients (median age: 82 yr [IQR 74-89]; 49% male) with chronic hip pain unresponsive to conservative treatments. Participants were assigned to either ethanol neurolysis (n=50) or a sham procedure (n=50). The primary outcome was pain intensity (numeric rating scale [NRS]) assessed at 7 days, 30 days, 3 months, and 6 months. Secondary outcomes included opioid consumption (oral morphine equivalents), quality of life (EQ-5D-5L), and neurological deficits. Ethanol neurolysis significantly reduced NRS scores at all follow-ups (P<0.0001). The mean NRS scores decreased from baseline 6.0 (sd 0.9) to 3.1 (0.8) at 7 days, 2.9 (0.7) at 30 days, 2.8 (0.7) at 3 months, and 3.0 (0.7) at 6 months. Opioid consumption was lower in the neurolysis group at 7 days (median [IQR]: 1.5 [0.5-3.5] mg vs 11.5 [9.1-13.7] mg, P=0.002) and remained reduced through 6 months. Quality of life improved significantly (P<0.0001), and no neurological deficits were observed. Ultrasound-guided ethanol neurolysis of the PENG is a safe and effective intervention for chronic hip pain, providing long-term relief and reducing opioid dependency. Further multicentre trials are needed to validate long-term outcomes. NCT06087588.

Background: Adequate postoperative analgesia is critical for elderly patients undergoing total hip arthroplasty (THA). The pericapsular nerve group (PENG) block relieves pain while preserving motor function, but its limited duration necessitates adjuncts. This study evaluates the efficacy of perineural dexamethasone in prolonging PENG block analgesia in geriatric THA patients. Methods: In this double-blinded, randomized controlled trial, 60 patients (≥ 65 years) undergoing THA under spinal anaesthesia were assigned to the PENG group – PENG block with 20 mL 0.2% ropivacaine and the PENG + DEX group – PENG block with 20 mL 0.2% ropivacaine + 4 mg perineural dexamethasone. The primary outcome was time to first rescue opioid administration. The secondary outcomes included total opioid consumption, pain scores (NRS), quadriceps strength, and adverse effects over 48 h. Results: Dexamethasone significantly prolonged analgesia (16.0 ± 1.3 vs. 9.0 ± 1.7 h, p < 0.0001) and reduced opioid use (0.9 ± 1.2 vs. 2.1 ± 1.4 mEQ, p = 0.0003). Pain scores were lower at six, 12, and 24 h ( p < 0.05). Quadriceps strength remained intact in both groups. No nerve injuries were observed ( p > 0.9999). Blood glucose levels at 12, 24, and 48 h showed no significant differences between groups ( p > 0.05). Conclusions: Perineural dexamethasone effectively prolongs PENG block duration, reduces opioid consumption, and does not compromise motor function, nerve integrity, or glycaemic control. It is a promising strategy for optimizing pain control in elderly THA patients.