{"status":"ok","message-type":"work","message-version":"1.0.0","message":{"indexed":{"date-parts":[[2026,10,17]],"date-time":"2026-10-17T12:07:13Z","timestamp":1792238833022,"version":"4.4.0"},"reference-count":53,"publisher":"MDPI AG","issue":"7","license":[{"start":{"date-parts":[[2025,4,4]],"date-time":"2025-04-04T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1743724800000},"content-version":"vor","delay-in-days":0,"URL":"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by\/4.0\/"}],"content-domain":{"domain":[],"crossmark-restriction":false},"short-container-title":["JCM"],"abstract":"<jats:p>Background and goal of study: The aim of this double-blind randomized study was to investigate the efficacy of dexmedetomidine as an adjuvant to the local anesthetic in transversus abdominis plane (TAP) block for unilateral inguinal hernioplasty. Materials and Methods: Eighty eligible patients were randomly allocated into ultrasound-guided TAP block with either dexmedetomidine 0.5 mcg\/kg diluted to a volume of 2 mL and ropivacaine 0.5% 25 mL (DR group) or ropivacaine 0.5% 25 mL and normal saline 2 mL (R group). The primary endpoint of this study was the numeric rating scale (NRS) score during coughing 24 h postoperatively. Secondary parameters were also evaluated. Results: Patients in the RD group demonstrated significantly less pain at rest three, six and 12 h postoperatively as compared to patients in the R group (p = 0.002, 0.032 and 0.049, respectively). Significant differences between the two groups were also demonstrated for NRS scores during coughing at 3, 6 and 12 h postoperatively (p = 0.013, 0.035 and 0.042, respectively). Additionally, the RD group demonstrated lower intraoperative remifentanil consumption (p &lt; 0.001), lower PACU morphine requirement (p = 0.012) and lower overall PCA morphine requirement postoperatively (p &lt; 0.001). Sedation scores, the incidence of hypotension, bradycardia and the occurrence of postoperative nausea and vomiting were no different between the two groups. Finally, the incidence of chronic pain at 6 months was significantly lower in the RD group compared to the R group (5.55% vs. 25%, p = 0.049). Conclusions: Dexmedetomidine as an adjuvant to ropivacaine reduces postoperative pain scores, has opioid-sparing effects and is associated with a favorable effect on chronic pain without side effects in patients subjected to TAP block for inguinal hernia repair.<\/jats:p>","DOI":"10.3390\/jcm14072478","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2025,4,4]],"date-time":"2025-04-04T11:31:00Z","timestamp":1743766260000},"page":"2478","update-policy":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.3390\/mdpi_crossmark_policy","source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":4,"title":["Evaluation of the Adjuvant Effect of Dexmedetomidine on Ropivacaine for Transversus Abdominis Plane Block in Inguinal Hernia Repair: A Prospective Double-Blind Randomized Trial"],"prefix":"10.3390","volume":"14","author":[{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0003-4890-4642","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Kassiani","family":"Theodoraki","sequence":"first","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Anesthesiology, Aretaieion University Hospital, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, 11528 Athens, Greece"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Ioannis","family":"Koutalas","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Anesthesiology, Aretaieion University Hospital, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, 11528 Athens, Greece"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0003-4174-4244","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Christina","family":"Orfanou","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Anesthesiology, Aretaieion University Hospital, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, 11528 Athens, Greece"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]}],"member":"1968","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2025,4,4]]},"reference":[{"key":"ref_1","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"239","DOI":"10.1007\/s10029-011-0798-9","article-title":"International guidelines for prevention and management of post-operative chronic pain following inguinal hernia surgery","volume":"15","author":"Alfieri","year":"2011","journal-title":"Hernia"},{"key":"ref_2","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"146","DOI":"10.1213\/01.ANE.0000115147.14626.C5","article-title":"Pain and sensory dysfunction 6 to 12 months after inguinal herniotomy","volume":"99","author":"Mikkelsen","year":"2004","journal-title":"Anesth. 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