Perioperative medicine & outcomes
Ketamine administration and postoperative mortality after major cancer surgery: a propensity-matched population-based study
Main finding · 3-yr mortalityResult — go to the resultHazard ratio 1.04 95% CI 1.00–1.09Authors' conclusion
In this research network study, perioperative ketamine use was not associated with reduced mortality after major cancer surgery.
Study context
- Population
- Adults (≥18 yr) undergoing major solid tumour cancer surgery, January 1, 2014 to April 1, 202329,547 matched pairs analysed
- Participants
- 176,149 adults
- Exposure
- Ketamine vs no ketamine on the day of surgery
- Outcome
- Mortality
- Follow-up
- 3 yr
Methodological detailspropensity-score matched (1:1), population-based, TriNetX US Collaborative Network
- Propensity-score matched (1:1)
- Population-based
- TriNetX US Collaborative Network
Main finding
3-yr mortality
Hazard ratio
1.04
95% CI 1.00–1.09
q=0.187
By group
Ketamine vs No ketamine
HR 1.04 (95% CI 1.00–1.09); q=0.187
As reported in the abstract
Observational data: associations, not effects.
Secondary outcomes
| Outcome | HR (95% CI) | P value | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Composite of surrogate markers of cancer progression or advanced disease (chemotherapy, radiotherapy or palliative care ≥6 months after surgery)Exploratory analysis | 0.82 (0.74–0.92) | q=0.013 | |
| 0.512Hazard ratio (log scale) |
5-yr mortality
- No difference in 5-yr mortality
Sensitivity and subgroup analyses by cancer type and perioperative exposures (subgroup)
- Ketamine not associated with improved survival after adjustment for multiple comparisons
Original publication
Ketamine administration and postoperative mortality after major cancer surgery: a propensity-matched population-based study. Br J Anaesth. Published 19 August 2026. doi:10.
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