The effects of prophylactic use of esketamine on postoperative depression and quality of life: a meta-analysis.
Minerva anestesiologica April 1, 2024 Guoweng Niu, Xiaozhu Zheng, Bigao Deng et al. 17 citations
Prophylactic esketamine given before or during surgery reduces postoperative depressive symptoms and the incidence of depression, anxiety, and chronic pain, while improving sleep quality and overall quality of life. A meta-analysis of 11 randomized controlled trials involving 1447 participants found that esketamine lowered depressive symptoms (standardized mean difference -0.61) and cut the risk of postoperative depression by 63% (relative risk 0.37). The evidence suggests that using esketamine preventively during the perioperative period offers significant benefits for patients' mental health and recovery.