Impact of Perioperative Dexmedetomidine and Esketamine on Postoperative Quality of Recovery
Impact of Perioperative Dexmedetomidine and Esketamine on Postoperative Quality of Recovery in Patients Undergoing General Anesthesia and Surgery: A 2×2 Factorial Randomized Trial
Peking University First Hospital
316 participants
Jan 5, 2026
INTERVENTIONAL
Conditions
Summary
For patients after surgery, quality of recovery has significant impacts on the prognosis, quality of life, and rational allocation of medical resources. Dexmedetomidine and esketamine have each been used during the perioperative period and improved postoperative analgesia and subjective sleep quality. This 2x2 factorial trial is designed to explore the effects of dexmedetomidine, esketamine, and their combination on the quality of recovery in patients recovering from surgery under general anesthesia.
Eligibility
Inclusion Criteria3
- Aged 18 years or over;
- Scheduled to undergo surgery under general anesthesia, with an expected surgical duration of at least 1 hour;
- Required patient-controlled intravenous analgesia after surgery.
Exclusion Criteria7
- Unable to communicate preoperatively due to visual, auditory, or verbal barriers or other reasons;
- Severe bradycardia (heart rate <50 bpm), sick sinus syndrome, or grade 2 or higher atrioventricular block without pacemaker;
- History of hyperthyroidism or pheochromocytoma;
- History of schizophrenia, epilepsy, Parkinson's disease, myasthenia gravis, or intracranial hypertension;
- Intracranial tumor or neurosurgery;
- Severe liver dysfunction (Child-Pugh class C), renal failure (requiring renal replacement therapy), or American Society of Anesthesiologists class IV or higher;
- Enrolled in other clinical studies.
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Interventions
A loading dose of dexmedetomidine (0.2 ug/kg) is administered after anesthesia induction, followed by a continuous infusion of dexmedetomidineat a rate of 0.2 ug/kg/h until 30 minutes before the end of surgery. Self-controlled analgesia is established with dexmedetomidine 100 ug and sufentanil 100 ug, diluated with normal saline to 100 ml, and programmed to deliver 2-ml boluses with a lock-out interval of 10 minutes and a background infusion rate at 1 ml/h for a duration of 48 hours.
A loading dose of esketamine (0.1 mg/kg) is administered after anesthesia induction, followed by a continuous infusion of esketamineat a rate of 0.1 mg/kg/h until 30 minutes before the end of surgery. Self-controlled analgesia is established with esketamine 50 mg and sufentanil 100 ug, diluated with normal saline to 100 ml, and programmed to deliver 2-ml boluses with a lock-out interval of 10 minutes and a background infusion rate at 1 ml/h for a duration of 48 hours.
A loading dose of dexmedetomidine (0.2 ug/kg) and esketamine (0.1 mg/kg) is administered after anesthesia induction, followed by a continuous infusion of dexmedetomidine at a rate of 0.2 ug/kg/h and esketamine at a rate of 0.1 mg/kg/h until 30 minutes before the end of surgery. Self-controlled analgesia is established with dexmedetomidine 100 ug, esketamine 50 mg, and sufentanil 100 ug, diluated with normal saline to 100 ml, and programmed to deliver 2-ml boluses with a lock-out interval of 10 minutes and a background infusion rate at 1 ml/h for a duration of 48 hours.
A loading dose of placebo (normal saline) is administered after anesthesia induction, followed by a continuous infusion of placebo at a rate same as above until 30 minutes before the end of surgery. Self-controlled analgesia is established with sufentanil 100 ug, diluated with normal saline to 100 ml, and programmed to deliver 2-ml boluses with a lock-out interval of 10 minutes and a background infusion rate at 1 ml/h for a duration of 48 hours.
Locations(1)
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NCT07308756