Effects of low-dose esketamine on early quality of recovery following minimally invasive esophagectomy: a multicenter, randomized controlled study.
Ann MedJul 22, 2026 (epub)
Hongwei Zhang, Feng Yin, Lantao Li et al.
✦ AI-curated · Sources linked
In 30 seconds
This multicenter, randomized controlled trial evaluated the effects of low-dose esketamine on quality of recovery in 198 patients undergoing minimally invasive esophagectomy. The study found that esketamine significantly improved QoR-15 scores on postoperative days 2 and 3 (116.9 vs 110.2, p < 0.001) and reduced anxiety and depression scores without increasing adverse events.
Key findings
- Esketamine improved QoR-15 scores on POD 2 (116.9 vs 110.2, p < 0.001).
- QoR-15 scores on POD 3 were also higher in the esketamine group (123.6 vs 116.8, p < 0.001).
- HADS-A and HADS-D scores were significantly lower in the esketamine group on POD 1 to 3 (all p < 0.001).
- Esketamine recipients reported significantly lower NRS pain scores at rest and during movement (all p < 0.001).
Why it matters
Improving postoperative recovery through effective analgesia and reduced anxiety and depression is crucial for enhancing patient outcomes after minimally invasive esophagectomy. This study suggests that low-dose esketamine may be a beneficial adjunct in this context.