Improved postoperative recovery after gastrointestinal surgery with opioid-free anesthesia: present state, obstacles, and future possibilities

Abstract

Optimizing perioperative treatment, mitigating surgical stress reactions, and accelerating patient recovery are the
goals of the enhanced recovery after surgery (ERAS) protocol, which is seeing growing application in gastrointestinal
procedures. Postoperative nausea and vomiting (PONV), respiratory depression, and intestinal paralysis are serious
side effects of opioid-based anesthesia that may slow down recovery, despite the fact that it successfully reduces pain.
These worries are intended to be alleviated by opioid-free anesthesia (OFA). Focusing on its function in facilitating
gastrointestinal function recovery, better pain management, lowering adverse events, and increasing patient
satisfaction, this article investigates the pharmacological substances and localized block strategies often used in OFA.