Esketamine as an opioid-sparing adjuvant for epidural labour analgesia: a randomised, double-blind trial evaluating postpartum depression.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Opioid-based epidural analgesia, while effective, is frequently associated with maternal side effects such as pruritus and potential central sensitisation. Esketamine provides rapid analgesic and antidepressant effects at subanesthetic doses. We compared esketamine with sufentanil both added to 0.083% ropivacaine focusing on efficacy, maternal safety, and postpartum depression outcomes.

Methods

In this single-centre, randomised, double-blind, controlled trial, 200 nulliparous parturients (ASA I-II, 18-40 years, cervical dilatation 2-3 cm) requesting epidural analgesia were equally allocated to receive patient-controlled epidural analgesia (PCEA) containing either sufentanil 0.3 µg/ml or esketamine 0.3 mg/ ml combined with ropivacaine 0.083%. Primary outcomes inclu

SUBMITTER: Zhang YY 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12859885 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Dec

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature