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Peer-reviewed articleOpen access

Clinical research progress of esketamine in perioperative neuroprotection: from mechanisms to therapeutic neuroprotection.

Wang H, Zhou C, Qu Y, Luo H

Frontiers in pharmacologySep 18, 2026License: open accessChina0 citationsDOI: 10.3389/fphar.2026.1960869

Abstract

During the perioperative period, factors such as ischemia-reperfusion injury, neuroinflammation, and cognitive dysfunction not only significantly affect postoperative recovery, but also are the main causes of postoperative disability and perioperative death. Esketamine is the R-enantiomer of ketamine, possessing N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptor antagonistic activity along with multiple anti-inflammatory, anti-apoptotic, and antioxidant properties. Compared to racemic ketamine, esketamine is more potent, acts more rapidly, causes mild respiratory depression, and induces fewer adverse neuropsychiatric effects, making it a promising agent for perioperative neuroprotection. This review aims to provide a comprehensive overview of esketamine's neuroprotective mechanisms and clinical applications in the perioperative setting, offering insights into future research directions that may advance therapeutic neuroprotection and improve surgical patient outcomes.

Topics & conditions

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KetamineDepression

Keywords

NMDA receptorsAnti-inflammatory effectsneuroprotectionPerioperativeEsketamine

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