Effect of esketamine on reducing postpartum pain and depression.
Brandon Lucke-Wold, Armin Karamian
World journal of clinical cases March 6, 2025 DOI: 10.12998/wjcc.v13.i7.100422 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Editorial Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Intervention | esketamine |
| Dose | low doses |
| Topics | Esketamine Depression |
| Keywords | Cesarean-section c-section Esketamine-therapy ketamine treatment Postpartum-depression postnatal depression Baby blues Maternal-health maternal care Maternal wellness Cesarean section Postoperative analgesia Postpartum depression Postpartum pain Surgical birth Ketamine therapy |
| Citations | 9 |
| Key points | Argues that more standardized clinical trials are needed before recommending routine perioperative use of esketamine for post-cesarean pain and depression. |
Abstract
In this editorial, we comment on a recent article by Chen et al, that addressed the effect of intraoperative injection of esketamine on postoperative analgesia and postoperative rehabilitation after cesarean section. Poor management of post-cesarean pain is associated with decreased maternal care for the baby, longer hospitalization, and higher risk of developing postpartum depression. Esketamine is a more potent S-enantiomer of ketamine which has shown promising analgesic and antidepressant properties for managing post-cesarean pain and depression in clinical studies. However, due to its potential adverse effects on the neurological and hemodynamic status of patients, it is recommended that its usage in low doses should be limited to cesarean candidates experiencing unbearable pain. Before any recommendation for routine perioperative use of esketamine, more standardized clinical trials are needed to strengthen our existing knowledge of its effectiveness in reducing postpartum pain and depression.