Premium
Ketamine for Conscious Sedation in Pediatric Emergency Care
Author(s) -
Mistry Rakhee B.,
Nahata Milap C.
Publication year - 2005
Publication title -
pharmacotherapy: the journal of human pharmacology and drug therapy
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.227
H-Index - 109
eISSN - 1875-9114
pISSN - 0277-0008
DOI - 10.1592/phco.2005.25.8.1104
Subject(s) - ketamine , sedation , medicine , midazolam , promethazine , adverse effect , anesthesia , emergency department , intensive care medicine , pharmacology , psychiatry
The literature concerning the efficacy and safety of ketamine for conscious sedation during procedures in pediatric emergency departments was reviewed. Data were obtained Guidelines for Monitoring and Management of Pediatric Patients During and After Sedation for Diagnostic and Therapeutic Procedures developed by the American Academy of Pediatrics Committee on Drugs, and from a MEDLINE search (January 1966–July 2004). Search terms were conscious sedation, ketamine, and emergency department; articles relevant to pediatric age group were selected. Clinical end points were efficacy and adverse effects associated with ketamine. Ketamine was effective for conscious sedation in 89–100% of patients in various studies using intravenous, intramuscular, or oral routes of administration. The efficacy of ketamine was similar to or greater than that of other drugs, such as midazolam and the combination of meperidine, promethazine, and chlorpromazine. The main adverse effects of ketamine were emesis, recovery agitation, and emergence phenomena. Ketamine appears to be an effective and well‐tolerated agent for conscious sedation in pediatric patients. Overall physician and parent satisfaction with the administration of this agent for conscious sedation was high.