Effect of single intravenous injection of esketamine on quality of recovery during early period after modified radical mastectomy for breast cancer: A retrospective study.

OBJECTIVE

To assess the impact of a single esketamine intravenous (IV) injection on the quality of recovery during early period after modified radical mastectomy for breast cancer.

METHODS

This retrospective study included 80 patients who underwent modified radical mastectomy under general anesthesia in Huzhou Maternity & Child Health Care Hospital from March to October 2022. All patients were between 35 to 55 years, weighting between 45 and 70 kg and Grade-I or II according to the American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA). Patients were grouped based on the type of pain management used. Patients (n=40) who were given 0.25 mg/kg esketamine single IV injection prior to completion of the surgery were assigned to Group-E, and patients (n=40) who were not treated with esketamine, comprised the control Group-C. Patients' data, such as education years, operation time, blood loss, the 9-item Quality of Recovery (QoR-9) scores before the anesthesia induction (T), one (T) and two hours after the extubation (T), the 40-item Quality of Recovery (QoR-40) scores one (D) and two days after the surgery (D), and the rate of adverse reactions were assessed in both groups.

RESULTS

Compared with T, the QoR-9 scores at T and T were markedly lower in all patients. Compared to Group-C, the QoR-9 scores at T and T in Group-E were considerably increased (<0.05). Similarly, the QoR-40 scores on D and D in Group-E were significantly higher compared to Group-C (<O.05).

CONCLUSION

Single intravenous injection of esketamine can improve the quality of the recovery of breast cancer patients during the early period after the modified radical mastectomy.