Effects of dexmedetomidine combined with etomidate on postoperative cognitive function in older patients undergoing total intravenous anaesthesia: a randomized, double-blind, controlled trial

Table 9 The plasma concentration of NSE at different time points in four groups

Time points	EN₁ group (ng/ml) n=34	ED₁ group (ng/ml) n=31	EN₂ group (ng/ml) n=32	ED₂ group (ng/ml) n=35	F values	P values
t₀	17.6±1.3	17.8±1.2	17.7±1.3	17.9±1.3	0.139	0.935
t₁	45.3±8.1*^$&	38.3±6.7*^#$	51.2±6.8*^#&	42.8±7.1*^$&	18.370	0.000
t₂	37.1±6.9*^$&	28.2±5.9*^#$	40.7±5.6*^#&	35.1±7.0*^$&	21.853	0.000
t₃	28.9±6.3*^&	18.3±1.4*^#$	31.1±4.2*^&	26.6±6.3*^#$&	38.302	0.000
t₄	18.2±1.4^$	17.9±1.2^$	24.9±3.4*^#&	18.3±1.7^$	84.180	0.000
t₅	17.4±1.3	17.7±1.3	17.5±1.4	17.7±1.12	0.324	0.807
F values	178.437	179.000	152.111	306.952	—	—
P values	0.000	0.000	0.000	0.000	—	—

NSE Neuron-specific enolase, EN₁ Etomidate-remifentanil with duration of surgery less than 60min, ED₁ Etomidate-remifentanil and dexmedetomidine with duration of surgery less than 60min, EN₂ Etomidate-remifentanil with duration of surgery more than 60min, ED₂ Etomidate-remifentanil and dexmedetomidine with duration of surgery more than 60min. t₀ 30 minutes before anesthesia, t₁ 3h after surgery, t₂ 8h after surgery, t₃ 24h after surgery, t₄ 48h hours after surgery and t₅ 72h after surgery. *p < 0.05 vs.t₀, ^# p < 0.05 vs.EN₁, ^$ p < 0.05 vs.EN₂ and ^& p < 0.05 vs.ED₁

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