S(+)-ketamine has been widely used in Europe and America in recent years, but racemic ketamine is still commonly used in our country. Compared with ketamine, S(+)-ketamine has a better action in anesthesia and analgesics, with remarkable improvement in adverse effects. This review briefly introduces the pharmacological properties and mechanism of S(+)-ketamine, and describes the agent′s clinical application and recent research advances. It will provide a safer and more reasonable guidance in clinical anesthesia and give a new thought to researchers in the future.