Objective To investigate the effect of dexmedetomidine combined with esketamine on the quality of postoperative recovery in patients undergoing laparoscopic gastric volume reduction surgery.Methods A total of 136 patients undergoing laparoscopic gastric volume reduction surgery,including 41 males and 95 females,aged 18-64 years,BMI 30-45 kg/m2,ASA physical status Ⅱ or Ⅲ,were random-ly divided into four groups:dexmedetomidine combined with esketamine group(group DE),esketamine group(group E),dexmedetomidine group(group D),and control group(group C),34 patients in each group.In groups DE and D,a loading dose of dexmedetomidine 0.5 μg/kg was infused intravenously over 10 minutes before induction,followed by a continuous infusion of 0.4 μg·kg-1·h-1 until 40 minutes before the end of surgery.In groups DE and E,a loading dose of esketamine 0.5 mg/kg was injected intra-venously at induction,followed by a continuous infusion of 0.1 mg·kg-1·h-1 until 40 minutes before the end of surgery.Equal volumes of normal saline were given to group C at the same time points.The 40-item quality of recovery scores(QoR-40)24 hours before surgery and 24 hours after surgery were recorded.The dosage of intraoperative propofol and remifentanil,the dosage of dezocine within 24 hours after surgery,ex-tubation time after surgery,the time of first getting out of bed and the time of first anal exhaust after surgery were recorded.The resting visual analogue scale(VAS)pain scores were recorded at the moment of extuba-tion,2,6,12,and 24 hours after surgery.The occurrence of postoperative adverse reactions such as nausea and vomiting,agitation,hypoxemia,and pneumonia were recorded.Results Compared with group C,the QoR-40 scores in groups DE,E,and D were significantly increased 24 hours after surgery(P<0.05),the dosage of intraoperative propofol and remifentanil,the dosage of dezocine within 24 hours after surgery were significantly reduced,the time of first getting out of bed and the time of first anal exhaust after surgery were significantly shortened in group DE(P<0.05),the resting VAS pain scores at the moment of extubation,2,6,and 12 hours after surgery were significantly decreased in groups DE and E(P<0.05),the resting VAS pain scores at the moment of extubation and 2 hours after surgery were significantly decreased in group D(P<0.05).Compared with group D,the QoR-40 scores were significantly increased 24 hours after sur-gery,the dosage of intraoperative propofol was significantly reduced,and the resting VAS pain scores 2,6,and 12 hours after surgery were significantly decreased in group DE(P<0.05).Compared with group E,the QoR-40 scores were significantly increased 24 hours after surgery,the dosage of intraoperative propofol was significantly reduced,and the resting VAS pain scores 2,6 hours after surgery were significantly de-creased in group DE(P<0.05).There were no statistically differences in resting VAS pain scores 24 hours after surgery,and the occurrence of postoperative adverse reactions among the four groups.Conclusion Dexmedetomidine combined with esketamine relieves postoperative pain,enhances the quality of postoper-ative recovery,and promotes rapid rehabilitation in patients undergoing laparoscopic gastric volume reduction surgery.