Effect of esketamine on postoperative depression and anxiety in patients undergoing cardiac valve surgery: a randomised, placebo-controlled, double-blinded clinical trial.
Pharmacological research November 22, 2025 Zhuo-Ning Zhang, Xin-Yu Hao, Chen Cai et al. 5 citations
A single low dose of esketamine given at the start of cardiac valve surgery reduced rates of depression and anxiety one week after surgery. Among 142 patients, those receiving esketamine had a depression rate of 7.0% compared to 31.0% in the placebo group, and an anxiety rate of 11.3% versus 35.2%. Esketamine also lowered delirium incidence, improved pain, sleep, and recovery quality, and reduced inflammatory markers (IL-6, CRP) and a neuronal injury marker (S100β) while increasing brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF). Side effects did not differ between groups.