Regional anesthesia
Regional anesthesia has been studied in 19 papers since 2022: 1 trial and 10 observational studies in people, 8 reviews; 5 in the past year. The newest paper, Oct 22, 2026: “Inflammaging in older patients with cancer undergoing surgery: implications for anesthetic management”.
19 papers study it14 findingsUpdated
1 new paper in 30 daysSee all 19
“The incidence of cognitive decline at 12 months was 29.7% vs. 25.4% of patients allocated to general vs. regional anaesthesia, respectively (unadjusted OR 1.2 (95%CI 0.7-2.1), p = 0.43”
None of its findings points the other way.
- 7 independent labs in 5 countries
- Funders: Chi Mei Medical Center and 7 more
- 4 of 11 findings with company ties
- Human trial1
- Humans10
Studies in people
1 study gave regional anesthesia to people and measured what changed.
no change: Has no effect on postoperative cognitive declineunadjusted OR 1.2 (95%CI 0.7–2.1)
no change: Has no effect on cognitive functionmean difference ‐0.1 (95%CI ‐0.7–0.5)
Randomized trial293 peopleBothaged ≥ 65 y12 months
Patients aged ≥ 65 y with hip fracture, ASA physical status 1–4 scheduled for surgical repair
Anaesthesia, Jan 23, 2025
What did studies of Regional anesthesia find?
10Studies of Regional anesthesia measured 10 outcomes; the most studied are postoperative cognitive decline (1 study), blood loss (1) and opioids (1).
Postoperative cognitive decline
no changein humans1OR 1.2
1 study
Postoperative cognitive decline
no changein humans1OR 1.2
Regional anesthesia has no effect on postoperative cognitive decline in humans (unadjusted OR 1.2 (95%CI 0.7–2.1)).
“Based on Chinese general population controls in cognitive changes over time (Table and online Supporting Information Table ), 38 (29.7%) patients allocated to the general anaesthesia group compared with 36 (25.4%) allocated to the regional anaesthesia group (unadjusted OR 1.2 (95%CI 0.7–2.1), p = 0.43, Bayes factor = 0.28) developed postoperative cognitive decline”
Human trial12 monthsn = 293
Anaesthesia
Regional anesthesia has no effect on postoperative cognitive decline in humans (29.7% vs. 25.4%, unadjusted OR 1.2 (95%CI 0.7-2.1), p = 0.43).
“The incidence of cognitive decline at 12 months was 29.7% vs. 25.4% of patients allocated to general vs. regional anaesthesia, respectively (unadjusted OR 1.2 (95%CI 0.7-2.1), p = 0.43”
Human trialolder patients undergoing hip fracture surgery12 monthsn = 293
Anaesthesia
Blood loss
downin humans1
1 study
Blood loss
downin humans1
Regional anesthesia decreases blood loss in humans.
“regional anesthesia might lead to reduced intraoperative blood loss, shorter operative times, and slight decreases in hospital stay for certain patient groups”
Reviewhip fracture surgery
Wiadomosci lekarskie (Warsaw, Poland : 1960)
Opioids
downin humans1
1 study
Opioids
downin humans1
Regional anesthesia decreases opioids in humans.
“offers significant benefits over general anesthesia, including reduced opioid use, lower pain scores, and decreased risk of postoperative delirium.”
Reviewhip fracture surgery
Cureus
Pain
downin humans1
1 study
Pain
downin humans1
Regional anesthesia decreases pain in humans.
“offers significant benefits over general anesthesia, including reduced opioid use, lower pain scores, and decreased risk of postoperative delirium.”
Reviewhip fracture surgery
Cureus
Composite of death, myocardial infarction, or stroke
downin humans1
1 study
Composite of death, myocardial infarction, or stroke
downin humans1
Regional anesthesia decreases composite of death, myocardial infarction, or stroke in humans (3% vs 7%, risk ratio 0.3, 95% CI: 0.2 to 0.6, P < 0.001).
“Regional anesthesia was associated with a lower incidence of the primary composite outcome compared to both general anesthesia (3% vs 7%, risk ratio 0.3, 95% CI: 0.2 to 0.6, P < 0.001)”
Humansundergoing hip fracture surgery
Geriatric orthopaedic surgery & rehabilitation
Cognitive function
no changein humans1
1 study
Cognitive function
no changein humans1
Regional anesthesia has no effect on cognitive function in humans (mean difference ‐0.1 (95%CI ‐0.7–0.5)).
“Figure shows similar trajectory changes over 12 months of MMSE scores between the two groups (mean difference ‐0.1 (95%CI ‐0.7–0.5)) in the patients with pre‐operative normal, mild cognitive impairment or dementia.”
Human trial12 monthsn = 293
Anaesthesia
Timed Up and Go test
downin humans1
1 study
Timed Up and Go test
downin humans1
Regional anesthesia impairs Timed Up and Go test in humans.
“the Timed Up and Go test (P < 0.001)”
Human trialwithin 24 hn = 40
Influence of regional anesthesia on fall risk in adults over 60 years
Clinical biomechanics (Bristol, Avon)
Berg Balance Scale
downin humans1
1 study
Berg Balance Scale
downin humans1
Regional anesthesia impairs Berg Balance Scale in humans.
“Notable changes were also observed in the Berg Balance Scale (P < 0.0001)”
Human trialwithin 24 hn = 40
Influence of regional anesthesia on fall risk in adults over 60 years
Clinical biomechanics (Bristol, Avon)
Physical function
downin humans1
1 study
Physical function
downin humans1
Regional anesthesia impairs physical function in humans.
“All gait parameters showed a performance reduction within 24 h.”
Human trialwithin 24 hn = 40
Influence of regional anesthesia on fall risk in adults over 60 years
Clinical biomechanics (Bristol, Avon)
Dementia
no changein humans1HR 1.2
1 study
Dementia
no changein humans1HR 1.2
Regional anesthesia has no effect on dementia in humans (HR = 1.2, 95% CI = 0.69-2.07, p = 0.52).
“The pooled results revealed no difference in dementia risk between the RA and placebo groups (HR = 1.2, 95% CI = 0.69-2.07, p = 0.52”
Reviewcompared to placebo group
Frontiers in public health
What is Regional anesthesia linked with?
3Studies link Regional anesthesia with 3 measures, most often delirium (1 study), mortality (1) and cardiac complications (1).
Delirium
downin humans1
1 study
Delirium
downin humans1
Regional anesthesia lowers the risk of delirium in humans.
“offers significant benefits over general anesthesia, including reduced opioid use, lower pain scores, and decreased risk of postoperative delirium.”
Reviewhip fracture surgery
Cureus
Mortality
downin humans1
1 study
Mortality
downin humans1
Regional anesthesia lowers the risk of mortality in humans (aOR 0.72, 95% CI 0.63-0.82; 6.44% vs 9.52%).
“The one-year mortality rate was lower in the RA group (6.44%) than in the GA group (9.52%), yielding an adjusted odds ratio of 0.72 (95% CI, 0.63-0.82).”
Humansafter surgery
BMC anesthesiology
Cardiac complications
upin humans1
1 study
Cardiac complications
upin humans1
Regional anesthesia raises the risk of cardiac complications in humans (p = 0.011).
“while the RA group has a higher rate of cardiac complications (p = 0.017 and 0.011, respectively).”
Humansundergoing hip fracture surgery
Journal of clinical medicine