Effectiveness of ketamine/esketamine in alleviating postoperative fatigue: a systematic review
International Journal of Clinical Pharmacy – November 12, 2025
Source: OpenAlex
Summary
Ketamine and esketamine show promise in reducing postoperative fatigue (POF) after major abdominal surgeries, with a notable effect observed across various studies. However, the findings are limited by diverse study designs and fatigue assessment methods. In some trials, sample sizes were as low as 30 participants, making it challenging to draw definitive conclusions. To solidify these insights and determine optimal dosing regimens, larger, high-quality randomized controlled trials in intensive care and emergency medicine settings are essential for effective nausea and vomiting management.
Abstract
Current evidence suggests that ketamine/esketamine may be effective in alleviating POF, particularly in major abdominal surgeries. These findings should be interpreted cautiously due to the heterogeneity in study designs, variations in fatigue assessment tools and time, and the limited sample sizes of the included studies. Future high-quality RCTs are needed to confirm these observations and establish the optimal dosing regimens.