Single low-dose esketamine improves postpartum depression symptoms and recovery quality in cesarean section women.
American journal of translational research January 1, 2026 Ran Jing, Yuanyan Tu
A single low dose of esketamine (0.2 mg/kg) given intravenously for 40 minutes right after fetal delivery, combined with standard patient-controlled intravenous analgesia, reduces early postpartum depression symptoms and speeds recovery in women having cesarean sections. In a randomized controlled trial of 136 women, those receiving esketamine had lower Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale scores on days 2 and 7 after surgery, higher Obstetric Quality of Recovery-10 scores, shorter times to first walking, passing gas, and breastfeeding, and more frequent breastfeeding within 48 hours, compared with a placebo group. Adverse reactions did not differ significantly between groups.