Journal of International Psychiatry

[Abstract] Objective: To explore the effect of dexmedetomidine (DEX) combined with ropivacaine (ROP) on anesthetic efficacy and maternal psychiatric symptoms in cesarean section, so as to provide a basis for the selection of clinical anesthetic drugs. Methods: A total of 102 full-term pregnant women who underwent cesarean section in our hospital from January 2021 to December 2024 were selected and randomly divided into the DEX combined with ROP group (n=51) and the ROP group (n=51). The basic data, anesthetic efficacy (Grade Ⅰ-Ⅲ), psychiatric symptoms (Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale [EPDS] scores), and incidence of adverse reactions were compared between the two groups. Results: There were no significant differences in basic data such as age, gestational weeks, duration of fetal delivery, and duration of surgery between the two groups (P>0.05). The proportion of patients with Grade Ⅰ anesthetic efficacy in the DEX combined with ROP group was significantly higher than that in the ROP group , while the proportion of Grade Ⅱ was significantly lower (P<0.05). At 1 week and 4 weeks after delivery, the EPDS scores in the DEX combined with ROP group were significantly lower than those in the ROP group (P<0.05). The incidence of adverse reactions in the DEX combined with ROP group was significantly lower than that in the ROP group (P<0.05). Conclusion: DEX combined with ROP has superior anesthetic efficacy in cesarean section, can effectively improve maternal psychiatric symptoms, and has fewer adverse reactions. It is recommended for clinical promotion.

[Keywords] Dexmedetomidine; Ropivacaine; Cesarean section; Anesthetic efficacy; Psychiatric symptoms