Mei B, Xu G, Han W, et al. - As dexmedetomidine is beneficial for reducing the incidence of postoperative delirium (POD) in surgical patients and has significant anti-inflammatory effects, researchers here assessed if inhibition of peripheral inflammation underlies this effect of dexmedetomidine. They performed a prospective, randomized, controlled study including 366 patients (65 years of age or above) who received total knee arthroplasty from January 2019 to May 2019. Random assignment of patients to undergo spinal anesthesia supplemented with propofol or dexmedetomidine for sedation was done. Outcomes revealed better postoperative neurocognitive function among elderly patients who received intraoperative sedation with dexmedetomidine. The two groups exhibited no difference in postoperative plasma concentrations of tumor necrosis factor-α and interleukin-6. Patients sedated with propofol exhibited higher concentration of S100β 48 hours after surgery than patients who received dexmedetomidine sedation. Based on findings, they suggest no relation to this effect of the modulation of dexmedetomidine on peripheral inflammation.