During the postoperative period of patients undergoing a combined thoracoscopic–laparoscopic esophagectomy, the addition of DEX to sufentanil in intravenous patient-controlled analgesia (IVPCA) exhibited better postoperative analgesia, fewer inflammatory responses with a reduced plasma TNF-α level, and lower postoperative delirium categories and better health statuses [107]. The gene discussed is TNF; the disease is delirium.