Abstract: Objective To observe the effect of patient-controlled intravenous analgesia (PCIA) with dexmedetomidine combined with sufentanil on short-term anxiety and depression in patients after cesarean section. 
Methods A total of 100 patients aged 23-40 years with American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) Ⅰ-Ⅱ who underwent elective cesarean section were〖JP2〗 randomly divided into normal saline + sufentanil group (S group, n=50) and dexmedetomidine+sufentanil group (DS group, n=50). The Zung Self-Rating Depression Scale (SDS), State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI), Richmond agitation-sedation scale and visual analog score were applied immediately after entry into the operating room (T0), and at 3 h (T1), 6 h (T2), 12 h (T3), 24 h (T4), 48 h (T5) and 72 h (T6) after operation. The frequency of PCIA compression, the dosage of sufentanil and tramadol consumed, time to postoperative anal exhaust, time of lactation initiation, the incidences of nausea and vomiting,pruritus and bradycardia were observed and recorded in two groups. 
Results The Zung SDS scores gradually decreased at T0-T6 in the two groups, with the DS group showing a more significant decrease compared to the S group (P＜0.05). The S-AI and T-AI scores gradually decreased at T0-T6 in the two groups, with the DS group showing a more significant decrease compared to the S group (P＜0.05). At T2-T4, the RASS score in the DS group was lower than that in the S group, with a statistically significant difference (P＜0.05). The VASR and VASW scores in both groups showed a trend of first increasing and then decreasing, with the S group showing a more significant change compared to the DS group, and both scores were higher than those in the DS group (P＜0.05). The dosage of tramadol consumed for relief analgesia and the frequency of PCA compression in the S group were significantly increased compared to those in the DS group (P＜0.05). The time to postpartum lactation initiation and anal exhaust in the DS group were shortened compared with those in the S group, and the incidence of postoperative nausea and vomiting in the DS group was significantly reduced compared with those in the S group (P＜0.05). There was no statistically significant difference in the occurrence of bradycardia and pruritus between the two groups of postpartum women (P＞0.05). 
Conclusion PCIA with dexmedetomidine combined with sufentanil can effectively alleviate maternal anxiety and depression after cesarean section, enhance postoperative analgesic effect, and promote early lactation after cesarean section. 

Key words: cesarean section, sufentanil, dexmedetomidine