Purpose: This study aims to investigate the effects of the different doses of esketamine on postoperative quality of recovery in patients undergoing modified radical mastectomy.
Methods: Ninety-nine female patients were randomly allocated to three groups: the low-dose esketamine group (group E₁) (0.5 mg/kg loading, 2 μg/kg/h infusion), the high-dose esketamine group (group E₂) (0.5 mg/kg loading, 4 μg/kg/h infusion), the control group (group C) (received normal saline). The primary outcome was the quality of recovery-15 (QoR-15) scores on postoperative day 1 (POD1) and days 3 (POD3). The secondary outcomes were the sleep quality scores on POD1, bispectral index (BIS) value at 10, 30, and 60 min after operation, numeric rating scale (NRS) pain scores within 24 h after surgery, nausea, vomiting, drowsiness, nightmare, and intraoperative awareness.
Results: The total QoR-15 scores were higher in group E₁ and group E₂ than in group C on POD1 and POD3 (P < 0.05). The sleep quality scores on POD1 and BIS value at 10, 30, and 60 min after operation were higher in group E₁ and group E₂ than in group C (P < 0.05). The NRS pain scores at 2, 4 and 6 h after surgery in group E₁ and at 2, 4, 6, 12 and 24 h after surgery in group E₂ were lower than in group C (P < 0.05). The NRS pain scores at 6, 12 and 24 h after surgery in group E₂ were lower than in group E₁ (P < 0.05). The incidence of drowsiness was higher in group E₁ and group E₂ than in group C (P < 0.05).
Conclusion: Esketamine infusion improved to some extent the quality of recovery on POD1 and POD3 in patients undergoing modified radical mastectomy, especially 4 μg/kg/h esketamine was better, but the BIS value and incidence of drowsiness were significantly increased.
Keywords: esketamine, postoperative quality of recovery, radical mastectomy