Avoiding opioids and volatile anesthetics during surgery may reduce immunosuppression. In patients with advanced head-and-neck malignancies undergoing excision with reconstruction, those who received an opioid-free anesthesia regimen using intravenous lidocaine had a significantly lower rate of cancer recurrence within one year after surgery compared to those who received a regimen using dexmedetomidine with ketamine or standard morphine-based anesthesia. Hospital stay was also shorter in the lidocaine group. Durations of surgery and intensive care unit stay were similar across groups, and mortality at one year was comparable.
A single session of mindfulness meditation reduced systolic blood pressure reactivity to acute mental stress in thirty healthy male Indian undergraduate medical students. In a pre- and post-comparative interventional study, participants showed a statistically significant decrease in systolic blood pressure reactivity after meditation compared to before, while diastolic blood pressure and heart rate reactivity did not change significantly. The authors conclude that even a one-time mindfulness meditation intervention can influence cardiovascular reactivity to mental stress.
A 10-day Vipassana meditation camp was associated with small improvements in physical health and emotional well-being among 152 first-time participants. Average weight decreased by 0.8 kg, body mass index dropped by 0.3 kg/m², random blood sugar fell by 8.8 mg/dl, and oxygen saturation rose by 0.92%. Systolic and diastolic blood pressure showed slight reductions. Emotional responses shifted toward reduced fear and increased feelings of peace and well-being. The authors suggest Vipassana meditation may serve as an adjunct to conventional treatment for chronic illnesses, but note that randomized controlled trials are needed to confirm these findings.