Ketamine: review of its pharmacology and its use in pediatric anesthesia.
The management of the uncooperative pediatric patient undergoing minor surgical procedures has always been a great challenge. Several sedative techniques are available that will effectively alleviate anxiety, but short of general anesthesia, no sedative regimen is available that will enable treatment of the uncooperative child. Ketamine produces a unique anesthetic state, dissociative anesthesia, which safely and effectively enables treatment of these children. The pharmacology, proposed mechanisms of action, and clinical use of ketamine (alone and in combination with other agents) are reviewed and evaluated.
Bergman
S A
SA
Baltimore College of Dental Surgery, Dental School, University of Maryland 21201, USA. SAB001@dental.umaryland.edu
D000766:Anesthesia, Dental; D000778:Anesthetics, Dissociative / Q000494:pharmacology*; D002648:Child; D002652:Child Behavior / Q000187:drug effects*; D019140:Dental Care for Children; D006801:Humans; D007649:Ketamine / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology*; D008032:Limbic System / Q000187:drug effects
D000778:Anesthetics, Dissociative; D007649:Ketamine