Intravenous Dexmedetomidine as a Perioperative Autonomic-Immune Neuromodulator

Surgical trauma induces activation of the sympathetic nervous system and triggers a systemic inflammatory response that may adversely affect postoperative recovery. Dexmedetomidine, a highly selective α2-adrenoceptor agonist, has been proposed as a pharmacological neuromodulatory strategy capable of attenuating sympathetic activation and modulating neuroimmune interactions during the perioperative period. However, the extent to which intravenous dexmedetomidine influences perioperative inflammatory biomarkers and clinical recovery in patients undergoing total hip arthroplasty under regional anesthesia remains unclear. This prospective, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial aims to evaluate the effects of two doses of intravenous dexmedetomidine administered during spinal anesthesia combined with ultrasound-guided pericapsular nerve group (PENG) block on autonomic regulation, systemic inflammatory response, postoperative pain, opioid consumption, and quality of recovery following elective primary total hip arthroplasty.