Optimization of Postoperative Intravenous Patient-Controlled Analgesia with Opioid-Dexmedetomidine Combinations: An Updated Meta-Analysis with Trial Sequential Analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials.

It is still a challenge to optimize postoperative pain management. The effects of adding dexmedetomidine (DEX) to opioid-based postoperative intravenous patient-controlled analgesia (PCA) are not fully understood.