Intraoperative Esketamine and Postpartum Depression Among Women With Cesarean Delivery: A Randomized Clinical Trial
Obstetric Anesthesia Digest November 18, 2025 Li Ren, Ting Zhang, B Zou et al. 1 citation
Postpartum depression affects about 17.7% of new mothers globally and 21.4% in China. Cesarean birth increases the risk of developing postpartum depression compared to vaginal birth. Esketamine, a rapid-acting antidepressant derived from ketamine, has shown mixed results in prior randomized clinical trials for preventing postpartum depression, with limited real-world evidence of its effectiveness. This study examined the practical impact of esketamine in reducing the risk of postpartum depression following cesarean delivery.