Can a ketamine boost during surgery slash opioid needs?

NCT ID NCT03231683

Completed Symptom relief Sponsor: KK Women's and Children's Hospital Source: ClinicalTrials.gov ↗

First seen Aug 14, 2026 · Last updated Aug 14, 2026

Summary

This trial tests whether giving a low dose of ketamine during anesthesia can reduce the amount of morphine needed for pain relief in the first 24 hours after an abdominal hysterectomy. It also looks at whether this approach lowers common opioid side effects like nausea, vomiting, and itching. The study involves 90 women undergoing open hysterectomy for benign conditions, with half receiving ketamine and half receiving a placebo, in a double-blinded setup.

What this could mean

Our plain-language read of the trial. This is informational only — not medical advice or a prediction.

Active substance: Low-dose esketamine (S+ ketamine) given intravenously during anesthesia
What this could lead to: If effective, this could offer a way to reduce opioid use and related side effects after hysterectomy, improving recovery.
What could go wrong: This is a small, early-phase trial, so results may not be conclusive. Ketamine can cause side effects like nausea or psychotomimetic effects, and the benefit over placebo is uncertain.

This is an AI summary of the original study and may miss details. Read our disclaimer.

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As listed by the trial registrant

The condition terms exactly as the trial's registrant entered them.

ANESTHESIA HYSTERECTOMY KETAMINE MORPHINE

Contacts and locations

Locations

Kk Women'S and Children'S Hospital

Singapore, 229899, Singapore

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