Abstract:Objective To explore the effect of deep neuromuscular blockade on intestinal barrier function and cardiopulmonary function after laparoscopic surgery in the elderly.Methods A total of 92 elderly patients with colorectal cancer who were admitted to the Affiliated Hospital of Jiangnan University for laparoscopic surgery from January 2019 to December 2021 were selected and randomly divided into study group and control group, with 46 cases in each group. The study group was given deep neuromuscular blockade, and the control group was given moderate neuromuscular blockade. The levels of plasma D-lactate, plasma diamine oxidase (DAO), and C-reactive protein (CRP), heart rate, mean arterial pressure, dynamic lung compliance, oxygenation index, operative duration, operative condition score, intraoperative pneumoperitoneum pressure, time to postoperative extubation, time to postoperative recovery, length of postoperative hospital stay, time to pass flatus, and postoperative pulmonary complications were compared between the two groups.Results The levels of plasma D-lactate, DAO and CRP, heart rate, mean arterial pressure, dynamic lung compliance, and oxygenation index before the operation (T1), immediately after the operation (T2), 24 h after the operation (T3), and 48 h after the operation (T4) in the two groups were compared via repeated measures analysis of variance, and the results revealed that they were different among the time points (F = 316.49, 122.38, 251.03, 22.183, 34.286, 67.203 and 12.052, all P = 0.000) and between the two groups (F = 8.759, 6.416, 11.620, 5.212, 4.594, 4.006 and 4.214, all P = 0.000). Specifically, the levels of plasma D-lactate, DAO and CRP were lower, and heart rate, mean arterial pressure, dynamic lung compliance, and oxygenation index were higher in the study group compared with those in the control group, indicating relatively better analgetic effects. Besides, the change trends of these indicators were also different between the two groups (F = 16.767, 9.731, 19.937, 6.018, 5.972, 8.141 and 6.495, all P = 0.000). There was no significant difference in the operative duration and length of postoperative hospital stay between the two groups (P > 0.05). The operative condition score in the study group was higher than that in the control group (P < 0.05). The intraoperative pneumoperitoneum pressure was lower, and time to postoperative extubation, time to postoperative recovery and time to pass flatus were shorter in the study group than those in the control group (P < 0.05). The overall incidence of pulmonary complications in the study group was lower than that in the control group (P < 0.05).Conclusions As for elderly patients undergoing laparoscopic surgery, deep neuromuscular blockade may improve intestinal barrier function and cardiopulmonary function, promote postoperative recovery, and reduce the incidence of pulmonary complications.