Ketamine

Chemical formula: C₁₃H₁₆ClNO  Molecular mass: 237.725 g/mol  PubChem compound: 3821

Therapeutic indications

Ketamine is indicated for:

Induction of general anesthesia, maintenance of general anesthesia

Population group: only children (1 year - 12 years old) , adolescents (12 years - 18 years old) , adults (18 years old or older)

Ketamine is indicated in children and in adults.

Ketamine is recommended:

As an anaesthetic agent for diagnostic and surgical procedures. When used by intravenous or intramuscular injection, ketamine is best suited for short procedures. With additional doses, or by intravenous infusion, ketamine can be used for longer procedures. If skeletal muscle relaxation is desired, a muscle relaxant should be used and respiration should be supported.

For the induction of anaesthesia prior to the administration of other general anaesthetic agents.

To supplement other anaesthetic agents.

Specific areas of application or types of procedures:

When the intramuscular route of administration is preferred.

Debridement, painful dressings, and skin grafting in burned patients, as well as other superficial surgical procedures.

Neurodiagnostic procedures such as pneumoencephalograms, ventriculograms, myelograms, and lumbar punctures.

Diagnostic and operative procedures of the eye, ear, nose, and mouth, including dental extractions.

Note: Eye movements may persist during ophthalmological procedures.

Anaesthesia in poor-risk patients with depression of vital functions or where depression of vital functions must be avoided, if at all possible.

Orthopaedic procedures such as closed reductions, manipulations, femoral pinning, amputations, and biopsies.

Sigmoidoscopy and minor surgery of the anus and rectum, circumcision and pilonidal sinus.

Cardiac catheterization procedures.

Caesarean section; as an induction agent in the absence of elevated blood pressure.

Anaesthesia in the asthmatic patient, either to minimise the risks of an attack of bronchospasm developing, or in the presence of bronchospasm where anaesthesia cannot be delayed.

For this indication, competent medicine agencies globally authorize below treatments (click for details):

Contraindications

Ketamine is contraindicated in the following cases:

Eclampsia, pre-eclampsia

at least one of
Eclampsia
Pre-eclampsia

Myocardial disease

Myocardial disease

Cerebrovascular accident, cerebral trauma

at least one of
CVA - Cerebrovascular accident
Cerebral trauma

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Factors such as age, gender, and health history are evaluated to create a personalized medication regimen.

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