Esketamine for negative emotions and cognitive function in general anesthesia: a systematic review and meta-analysis - Summary - MDSpire

Esketamine for negative emotions and cognitive function in general anesthesia: a systematic review and meta-analysis

  • By

  • Xiaofan Yang

  • Jing Qin

  • Wenqing Xu

  • June 12, 2026

  • 0 min

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Objective:

To systematically evaluate the effect of esketamine on postoperative negative emotions (anxiety and depression) and cognitive function in patients undergoing general anesthesia.

Key Findings:
  • Esketamine significantly reduced depressive symptoms (SMD = −0.92, 95% CI: [−1.39, −0.46]).
  • Esketamine significantly reduced anxiety symptoms (SMD = −1.23, 95% CI: [−1.71, −0.75]).
  • Cognitive outcomes showed heterogeneity; MMSE showed no significant effect overall but became significant after excluding an outlier (SMD = 0.65, 95% CI: [0.39, 0.90]).
  • MoCA results remained non-significant (SMD = 0.93, 95% CI: [−0.99, 2.84]).
  • Certainty of evidence for both emotional outcomes was low, and very low for cognitive outcomes.
Interpretation:

Remove unsupported conclusions about esketamine's effects.

Limitations:
  • Explicitly mention the need for further high-quality RCTs.
Conclusion:

Revise to reflect only the findings without unsupported implications.

Sources:

Original Source(s)

Esketamine for negative emotions and cognitive function in general anesthesia: a systematic review and meta-analysis

  • by Xiaofan Yang, Jing Qin, Wenqing Xu

  • June 12, 2026

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