Abstract:Objective To investigate the effect of esketamine combined with dexmedetomidine and transversus abdominis plane (TAP) block on postoperative nausea and vomiting (PONV) after gynecological laparoscopy.Methods A retrospective analysis was conducted on the medical records of 98 patients who underwent gynecological laparoscopy at The First Hospital of Northwest University from July 2021 to July 2023. According to the anesthesia plan, the patients were divided into an observation group (52 cases) and a control group (46 cases). Both groups underwent TAP block before general anesthesia. The control group received propofol combined with remifentanil anesthesia (opioid anesthesia), while the observation group received esketamine combined with dexmedetomidine anesthesia (non-opioid anesthesia). Surgical indicators, postoperative nausea and vomiting, postoperative sedation/agitation, postoperative pain, and complications were compared between the two groups.Results The observation group had shorter recovery time for spontaneous breathing, awakening time, and extubation time compared to the control group (P < 0.05). There were no significant differences between the two groups in terms of surgery duration and pneumoperitoneum establishment time (P > 0.05). The comparison of HR and SpO2 between two groups of pneumoperitoneum establishment, 15 min pneumoperitoneum establishment, and 30 min pneumoperitoneum establishment was conducted using a repeated measures design analysis of variance. The results showed that: (1) There was no statistically significant difference in HR and SpO2 between different time points (F =1.416, P =0.103; F =2.031, P =0.079). (2) There was no statistically significant difference in HR and SpO2 between the two groups (F =0.715, P =0.683; F =1.069, P =0.341). (3) There was no statistically significant difference in HR and SpO2 between the two groups (F =2.018, P =0.080;F =2.815,P =0.072). The observation group had lower postoperative nausea and vomiting levels compared to the control group (Z =8.478, P =0.037) and fewer rescue doses (Z =3.071, P =0.003). Ramsay sedation scores in the observation group were lower than in the control group (P < 0.05), while Ricker agitation-sedation scores were higher in the observation group (P < 0.05). The observation group had lower pain scores at 2 hours and 12 hours postoperatively (P < 0.05), with no significant difference in the number of pain rescue doses between the two groups (P > 0.05). There were no significant differences in the incidence of bradycardia, hypotension, postoperative fatigue, and constipation between the two groups (P > 0.05).Conclusion The combination of esketamine and dexmedetomidine with TAP block during gynecological laparoscopy anesthesia helps to reduce postoperative pain and decrease the incidence of postoperative nausea and vomiting.