Ketamine is a noncompetitive antagonist of the N⁃methyl⁃D⁃aspartate（NMDA）receptor and is the racemate of both the levorotatory and dextorotatory isomers. S⁃Ketamine is the dextorotatory isomer of ketamine and has twice affinity for the NMDA receptor than racemic ketamine，resulting in greater analgesic potency and fewer adverse effects. Studies have demonstrated that NMDA receptors are associated with the generation of acute pain and the development of chronic pain，and the use of S⁃ketamine in the perioperative period is a desirable strat⁃ egy that provides a non⁃opioid mechanistic route to analgesia，but its optimal route and method of use still require ongoing research. This article will summarize and review the recent literature related to perioperative analgesia with S⁃ketamine.