Effect of S-ketamine on depression, inflammation and brain MRI after abdominal surgery in depressed patients

This parallel-group, Phase 0 interventional study in China (n=150) is recruiting adults aged 18 to 80 undergoing abdominal surgery and experiencing postoperative sleep disorders, with participants allocated to esketamine or saline in equal numbers (75 per group). The experimental arm receives ace ketamine, described in the source as esketamine, while the control arm receives an equivalent volume of saline. The trial is designed to evaluate the effects of esketamine on postoperative depression-related outcomes, inflammation, and brain MRI findings after abdominal surgery, although the registered outcomes focus primarily on sleep and recovery measures. The primary outcome is sleep quality score, assessed postoperatively at the study-defined timepoint. Secondary outcomes include quality of postoperative recovery, Hospital Anxiety Depression Score, pain scores, and postoperative opioid consumption. No additional dosing details or comparator-specific procedural information are provided in the registration record. The study is sponsored by the General Hospital of the Eastern Theatre of the Chinese People’s Liberation Army.