Objective: To investigate the effect of esketamine on postoperative anxiety and cognitive function in gynecological malignant tumor patients with preoperative anxiety and cognitive decline. Methods: Eighty-nine patients were selected for resection of gynecological malignant tumors, aged 18-64 years, BMI 18-28 kg/m2, ASA physical status Ⅱ or Ⅲ, the hospital anxiety and depression scale (HADS) anxiety subscale score ≥ 8 points and montreal cognitive rating scale (MoCA) < 26 points 1 day before surgery. The patients were divided into two groups using the random number table method: the esketamine group (group S, n = 45) and the normal saline group (group C, n = 44). In group S, esketamine 0.2 mg/kg was injected intravenously during anesthesia induction, 0.25 mg·kg-1·h-1 was injected by pump during anesthesia maintenance, and esketamine 100 mg was used in the postoperative analgesic pump. Group C was given the same volume of normal saline during anesthesia induction, maintenance and PCIA analgesia, and other medications were the same as those in group S. HADS and MoCA were used to evaluate patients' anxiety and cognitive function 1 day before surgery and the 1 day and 3 days after surgery. The concentration of tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), interleukin-6 (IL-6), S100 calcium-binding protein (S100β), and brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) were detected 1 day before surgery and 3 days after surgery. The intraoperative dosage of remifentanil, ephedrine use rate, Ramsay sedation score 10 minutes after admission to PACU, extubation time,the number of total and effective compressions of PCIA within 48 hours after surgery, postoperative remedial analgesia, and the occurrence of adverse reactions, such as hypertension, hypotension, nausea and vomiting, chill, dizziness, and fever within 48 hours after surgerywere recorded. Results: Compared with group C, the incidence of anxiety were significantly reduced and MoCA cognitive score were increased 1 day and 3 days after surgery, the concentrations of TNF-α, IL-6, and S100β were significantly reduced, the concentration of BDNF was significantly increased, the dosage of remifentanil was significantly reduced, the sedation score of Ramsay was significantly increased, the number of total compressions and effective compressions of PCIA within 48 hours after surgery was significantly reduced, and postoperative fever was significantly reduced in group S (P < 0.05). There were no statistically significant differences in ephedrine use rate, extubation time, postoperative remedial analgesia rate, the incidence of other adverse reactions, such as hypertension, hypotension, nausea and vomiting, chills and dizziness within 48 hours after surgery between the two groups. Conclusion: Esketamine can decrease the concentrations of inflammatory factors and reduce nerve damage, help relieve anxiety and cognitive function of patients with gynecological malignant tumors. |