Pain control without opioids: safer option for surgery patients?

This study tested whether avoiding opioids during abdominal surgery could still control pain effectively. 42 adults were randomly assigned to receive either opioid-free anesthesia (using ketamine, lidocaine, and dexmedetomidine) or standard opioid-based anesthesia (using fentanyl). Both methods provided equal pain control during surgery, but the opioid-free group had significantly less nausea and vomiting after the operation. This suggests opioid-free anesthesia is a safe alternative that reduces common side effects.