Ventilatory response during dissociative sedation in children-a pilot study.
OBJECTIVE
It is unclear whether ketamine induces subclinical respiratory depression when administered in dissociative doses intravenously (IV). The authors report a pilot study of capnography in emergency department (ED) pediatric patients receiving ketamine alone for procedural sedation, and describe serial measures of ventilatory response [end-tidal carbon dioxide (EtCO(2)), respiratory rate, pulse oximetry].


METHODS
The authors performed continuous capnography on a convenience sample of 20 ED pediatric patients who received ketamine 1.5 mg/kg IV for procedural sedation.


RESULTS
Continuous EtCO(2) and pulse oximetry remained essentially unchanged following ketamine injection, and no EtCO(2) levels > 47 mm Hg were noted at any point throughout sedation.


CONCLUSIONS
No hypoventilation was observed in 20 ED pediatric patients receiving ketamine 1.5 mg/kg administered IV over 1 minute. The authors found no evidence of respiratory depressant properties for this dissociative agent.
Kim
Grace
G
Department of Emergency Medicine, Loma Linda University Medical Center and Children's Hospital, Loma Linda, CA 92354, USA. vtenacious@aol.com
Green
Steven M
SM
Denmark
T Kent
TK
Krauss
Baruch
B
D000778:Anesthetics, Dissociative / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D019296:Capnography; D002648:Child; D016292:Procedural Sedation; D006801:Humans; D007275:Injections, Intravenous; D007649:Ketamine / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D010865:Pilot Projects; D011446:Prospective Studies; D015656:Respiratory Mechanics / Q000187:drug effects*; D013997:Time Factors
D000778:Anesthetics, Dissociative; D007649:Ketamine