Esketamine-based PCIA combined with intercostal nerve block for acute pain after lobectomy: a randomized controlled trial
Frontiers in Pharmacology March 4, 2026 Mi Zhou, Y M Qi, Fan Zhou et al.
Adding a moderate dose of esketamine (0.03 mg/kg/h) to patient-controlled intravenous analgesia combined with a preoperative intercostal nerve block significantly reduced acute postoperative pain after thoracoscopic lobectomy, compared to a low dose of esketamine or sufentanil alone. Pain scores on the Numerical Rating Scale were lower at 2, 4, 24, 48, and 72 hours after surgery, and the need for rescue analgesia and opioid consumption decreased. The moderate esketamine group also had less postoperative nausea and vomiting than the sufentanil group. Low-dose esketamine did not improve pain control over sufentanil alone.