Table 4.

Secondary outcomes

Outcome	OFA Group (n = 59)	95% CI	OBA Group (n = 55)	95% CI	p-Value
Postoperative Cognitive Function
MoCA (Day 1), mean ± SD	23.8 ± 1.8	23.3–24.3	22.5 ± 2.2	21.9–23.1	0.02
MoCA (Day 3), mean ± SD	24.1 ± 2.0	23.6–24.6	22.7 ± 2.5	22.0–23.4	0.03
Change from Baseline (Day 3 – Baseline)	−1.2 ± 1.0	−1.46 to − 0.94	−2.3 ± 1.5	−2.70 to − 1.90	< 0.05
Pain Scores (NRS)
At 24 h
Mean ± SD	3.2 ± 1.1	2.9–3.5	4.0 ± 1.2	3.7–4.3	0.01
Median (IQR)	3 (2–4)	2.8–3.3	4 (3–5)	3.7–4.3	0.01
At 48 h
Mean ± SD	2.6 ± 1.0	2.3–2.9	3.4 ± 1.1	3.1–3.7	0.02
Median (IQR)	2 (2–3)	1.8–2.3	3 (2–4)	2.7–3.3	0.02
Rescue Opioid Use, n (%)	14 (23.7%)	13–35	23 (41.8%)	29–55	0.02
Total Opioid Consumption, mg morphine equivalents (mean ± SD)	4.1 ± 2.5	3.5–4.7	9.8 ± 3.0	9.0–10.6	< 0.001
Other Recovery Indicators
Length of Hospital Stay (days), mean ± SD	3.5 ± 0.8	3.3–3.7	4.1 ± 1.0	3.8–4.4	0.04
Time to Oral Intake (hours), median (IQR)	8 (6–10)	7.2–8.8	10 (8–12)	9.2–10.9	0.03
Adverse Events
Nausea/Vomiting, n (%)	7 (11.9%)	4–20	14 (25.5%)	14–37	0.08
Sedation Requiring Intervention, n (%)	2 (3.4%)	0–10	6 (10.9%)	3–19	0.15
Delirium (CAM), n (%)	3 (5.1%)	1–14	5 (9.1%)	1–17	0.48
Serious Adverse Events, n (%)	1 (1.7%)	0–8	2 (3.6%)	0–11	0.53

 Mean values are shown ± SD and compared with independent‑samples Student t tests; medians (IQR) were compared with the Mann–Whitney U test. Categorical variables were analyzed with the χ² or Fisher’s exact test. 95% CIs accompany group means, medians (Harrell–Davis), and proportions (Wilson)

Abbreviations: CAM‑ICU Confusion Assessment Method for the ICU, CI Confidence interval, IQR Inter‑quartile range, ME Morphine equivalents, MoCA Montreal Cognitive Assessment, NRS Numeric rating scale, OFA  Opioid‑free anesthesia, OBA Opioid‑based anesthesia, SD Standard deviation