Esketamine-Based Opioid-Free versus Opioid-Based Anesthesia for Recovery Quality After Laparoscopic Transabdominal...

This study aimed to compare the quality of postoperative recovery between esketamine-based opioid-free anesthesia (OFA) and opioid-based anesthesia (OBA) in patients undergoing laparoscopic transabdominal preperitoneal (TAPP) repair.

In this prospective, randomized, double-blind, noninferiority trial, 126 adults scheduled for elective laparoscopic TAPP repair were randomized to OFA (n = 63) or OBA (n = 63) group. The OFA group received esketamine (0.5 mg·kg^-1 induction, 0.4-0.5 mg·kg^-1·h^-1 maintenance), while the OBA group received sufentanil (0.4 μg·kg^-1 induction) and remifentanil (0.1-0.2 μg·kg^-1·min^-1 maintenance). The primary outcome was the 15-item Quality of Recovery (QoR-15) score at 24 hours postoperatively, with a noninferiority margin of -8. Secondary outcomes included pain scores, rescue analgesia, sleep quality, safety outcomes.

The OFA group showed a higher QoR-15 score at 24 hours postoperatively than the OBA group (median difference: 2; median [IQR]: 129 [125 to 132] vs 127 [123 to 130]; 95% CI, 0 to 4; P=0.014). Pruritus incidence was lower (P=0.027), vasopressor use was reduced (P = 0.012), and hypotensive episodes tended to be fewer (P=0.106) in the OFA group. Pain scores on coughing at 24 and 48 hours postoperatively were also lower in the OFA group (P=0.002 and P< 0.001, respectively).

Esketamine-based OFA provided a noninferior quality of postoperative recovery compared with OBA in patients undergoing laparoscopic TAPP repair, offering a safer alternative to OFA regimens that minimizes opioid-related complications while maintaining perioperative comfort and supporting enhanced recovery.