Effects of S-ketamine on Perioperative Opioid Consumption

This research focuses on improving postoperative pain management by evaluating the potential opioid-sparing effect of S-ketamine. While S-ketamine is known for its analgesic properties, its impact when used as a single dose alongside standardized analgesia protocols had not been previously studied in this specific surgical setting. To address this, the investigators designed a triple-blind randomized controlled trial, meaning that the patients, healthcare providers, and outcome assessors were all unaware of treatment allocation. This design minimizes bias and strengthens the reliability of the findings. The study was conducted at a tertiary care academic hospital in Brussels (Erasme Hospital), ensuring a controlled clinical environment with standardized procedures. A total of 53 adult patients were included. All participants were classified as ASA physical status 1 or 2, indicating they were either healthy or had only mild systemic disease. These patients were scheduled for elective laparoscopic gynecological surgery, a procedure typically associated with moderate postoperative pain. The primary objective of the study was to evaluate whether administering a single dose of S-ketamine could reduce postoperative opioid consumption, specifically measured as the total amount of morphine used during the first 24 hours after surgery.