Respiratory depression in women receiving propofol/esketamine versus propofol/fentanyl for abortion surgery or curettage: a randomized clinical trial

The incidence of respiratory depression was lower with subanaesthetic doses of esketamine than with fentanyl in women undergoing abortion surgery or curettage under propofol-based non-intubated general anaesthesia.KEY MESSAGESOpioids combined with propofol is a popular method for non-intubated general anaesthesia; however, this method usually results in higher incidence of respiratory depression.At subanaesthetic doses, esketamine provides an analgesic effect by antagonizing the N-methyl-d-aspartate receptor.In this trial, the incidence of respiratory depression was lower with subanaesthetic doses of esketamine than with fentanyl in women undergoing abortion surgery or curettage under propofol-based non-intubated general anaesthesia.