Perioperative medicine & outcomes
Effects of ketamine on postoperative cognition: a scoping review
Study context
- Population
- Adult surgical patients
- Participants
- 6,830 patients · 58 studies
- Exposure
- Ketamine ketamine, esketamine or arketamine) before or during GA
- Outcome
- Cognitive benefit of ketamine
Methodological detailssystematic search of Embase and Embase Classic (1947–2025), clinical trials and retrospective cohort analyses, Most trials underpowered for cognitive endpoints; populations and methods too heterogeneous for meta-analysis
- Systematic search of Embase and Embase Classic (1947–2025)
- Clinical trials and retrospective cohort analyses
- Most trials underpowered for cognitive endpoints; populations and methods too heterogeneous for meta-analysis
Main finding
As reported in the abstract
No cognitive benefits
35 of the 58 studies
60%
Reduced incidence or duration of perioperative neurocognitive disorders, or both
23 studies
40%
Observational data: associations, not effects.
Further findings
Dose, enantiomeric formulation, timing of administration
- No clear trends associated with favourable cognitive outcomes
Timing of cognitive assessment
- Studies assessing cognition only at early postoperative timepoints more likely to report no benefit
Outcomes and tools assessed
- Studies evaluating postoperative delirium
- 31
- Delirium studies using a Confusion Assessment Method derivative
- 81%
- Studies evaluating other perioperative neurocognitive disorders
- 39
- Of these, using Mini Mental State Examination
- 24 (62%)
- Of these, using Montreal Cognitive Assessment
- six (15%)
Original publication
Effects of ketamine on postoperative cognition: a scoping review. Br J Anaesth. Published 7 July 2025. doi:10.
Composed by AI from the published abstract and checked against it. How Briefs are made →