Abstract:Objective To analyze the effect of esketamine combined with propofol on pain after extraperitoneal ligation in children with inguinal hernia and hydrocele.Methods A total of 118 children with inguinal hernia and hydrocele admitted to our hospital from October 2019 to April 2022 were selected as the research objects, and were divided into control and study group by random number table method, with 59 cases in each group. The control group was given remifentanil and propofol for maintenance anesthesia, while the research group was given esticketamine and propofol for maintenance anesthesia. The changes of intraoperative hemodynamic indexes and surgery of the two groups were recorded. Perioperative resuscitation, agitation, and stress response were compared between the two groups. The incidence of perioperative pain and narcotics-related adverse reactions was compared between the two groups.Results Comparison of heart rate and mean arterial pressure (MAP) between the study group and the control group before anesthesia induction (T0), at 1 min after pneumoperitoneal establishment (T1), and at 1 min after ventilation (T2) showed differences in heart rate and MAP at different time points (P < 0.05). The heart rate and MAP of the study group were lower than that of the control group (P < 0.05). There were differences in heart rate and MAP between the study group and the control group (P < 0.05). There was no significant difference in operation time between the study group and the control group (P > 0.05). The recovery time of spontaneous breathing in the study group was lower than that in the control group (P < 0.05). There was no significant difference in postoperative recovery time and postoperative extubation time between the two groups (P > 0.05). The degree of agitation in the study group was lower than that in the control group (P < 0.05). Comparison of adrenalin (Adr) and cortisol (Cor) between the study group and the control group before, at 24 h, and 48h after surgery showed differences in Adr and Cor at different time points (P < 0.05), and the comparison of Adr and Cor between the study group and the control group was lower (P < 0.05). The changes of Adr and Cor in phase study group and control group were different (P < 0.05). Comparison of the Eastern Ontario Children's Hospital Pain Score (CHEOPS) scores at 4 h, 12 h, 24 h, and 48 h after surgery between the two groups showed differences in CHEOPS scores at different time points (P < 0.05). The CHEOPS scores of the study group were lower than those of the control group (P < 0.05). The CHEOPS scores of the study group and the control group were different (P < 0.05). There was no significant difference in the incidence of total adverse reactions between the two groups (P > 0.05).Conclusion The use of esticketamine combined with propofol after extraperitoneal ligation in children with inguinal hernia and hydrocele can stabilize intraoperative hemodynamic indexes, reduce the risk of perioperative agitation, inhibit perioperative stress response, and relieve postoperative pain with good safety.