COMPARISON OF OPIOID-FREE AND OPIOID-BASED ANESTHESIA TECHNIQUES ON qNOX INDEX IN ABDOMINAL SURGERY UNDER GENERAL ANESTHESIA

Opioid-based anesthesia has long been the standard approach for providing analgesia and autonomic stability during general anesthesia. However, increasing awareness of opioid-related adverse effects such as respiratory depression, postoperative nausea and vomiting (PONV), delayed recovery, hyperalgesia, and risks of prolonged opioid exposure has led to the development of alternative strategies that aim to reduce or eliminate the use of intraoperative opioids. Opioid-free anesthesia (OFA) is one such technique that utilizes a multimodal combination of non-opioid agents to achieve adequate analgesia and hemodynamic control while minimizing the pharmacologic burden associated with opioids.

OFA protocols typically incorporate medications such as ketamine, lidocaine, and dexmedetomidine, each contributing analgesic, antihyperalgesic, and sympatholytic effects through different mechanisms. This multimodal approach may offer more stable nociceptive control and reduce the incidence of opioid-related postoperative complications. Despite these potential benefits, evidence comparing OFA and traditional opioid-based anesthesia (OBA) in terms of intraoperative nociceptive response remains limited, particularly when assessed using objective monitoring systems.

The present study was designed as a randomized, double-blind controlled clinical trial to evaluate whether OFA provides comparable intraoperative nociceptive control to OBA in patients undergoing elective abdominal surgery under general anesthesia. The nociceptive response was assessed using the qNOX index, a quantitative parameter derived from electroencephalographic and electromyographic signals provided by the CONOX® monitoring system. qNOX reflects the probability of patient responsiveness to noxious stimuli, offering an objective measure of intraoperative analgesic adequacy.

A total of 42 adult patients meeting the inclusion criteria were randomly assigned into two equal groups: the OFA group and the OBA group. Both groups underwent a standardized anesthetic induction and maintenance protocol to ensure comparable levels of hypnosis and neuromuscular blockade. The OFA group received a combination of ketamine, lidocaine, and dexmedetomidine, while the OBA group received fentanyl as the primary opioid analgesic. All other anesthetic components, including induction agents, maintenance agents, ventilation parameters, and surgical procedures, were kept consistent between groups.

qNOX values were recorded at predetermined intervals representing key phases of the surgical process: baseline prior to induction, during endotracheal intubation, prior to surgical incision, at the moment of incision, and one hour following incision. Hemodynamic parameters were monitored throughout the procedure to evaluate autonomic stability. In addition to nociceptive monitoring, postoperative outcomes including nausea, vomiting, and overall recovery quality were assessed in the postoperative care unit.

This study seeks to determine whether OFA can provide an intraoperative nociceptive profile comparable to OBA, while potentially reducing postoperative opioid-related adverse effects. The findings are expected to contribute to the growing body of evidence regarding the clinical utility, safety, and feasibility of implementing opioid-free anesthesia in routine surgical practice, particularly for patients at higher risk of opioid-related complications.

Inclusion criteria

Adult patients aged 18-65 years

Patients undergoing elective abdominal surgery (e.g., laparotomy, colectomy, cystectomy, etc.)

American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) physical status I-II

Undergoing general anesthesia with endotracheal intubation

Undergoing abdominal surgery with a duration of less than 4 hours

Willing to participate in the study and sign the informed consent form

Patients who are extubated in the operating room after completion of the surgical procedure

Exclusion criteria

Patients with neurological disorders (e.g., epilepsy, stroke, altered level of consciousness)

History of severe psychiatric disorders or long-term use of psychotropic medications

Patients with a history of cardiac arrhythmias and/or prior use of antiarrhythmic drugs and/or those with a pacemaker

Patients with increased intracranial pressure

Patients on chronic opioid therapy or other chronic pain treatments

Patients with severe hemodynamic instability (hypotension/shock, unstable arrhythmias)

Patients with a history of allergy to medications used in this study