title: Evaluation of the cardiovascular stimulation effects after induction of anaesthesia with ketamine.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Ketamine is a common anaesthetic agent for surgical procedures in both paediatric and adult populations in our environment. In polytraumatised patients its cardio-stimulatory effects may be advantageous in supporting the cardiovascular system while awaiting the clinical effects of on-going resuscitative interventions. However, its clinical uses cause significant cardiovascular stimulations that may be deleterious in patients with cardiovascular diseases.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the stimulatory effects of ketamine on cardiovascular system following induction of anaesthesia with ketamine.
  
  
  METHODS
  This was a prospective observational study of the haemodynamic responses of 52 consenting patients who underwent surgery surgeries under general anaesthesia with ketamine induction. The pulse rate and blood pressure were measured non-invasively and recorded every minute for ten minutes following ketamine induction.
  
  
  METHODS
  University of Ilorin Teaching Hospital, Ilorin, Nigeria.
  
  
  METHODS
  Following approval of the Institutional Ethical Review committee, 52 consenting adult patients scheduled for surgery under general anaesthesia were premedicated with 10mg oral diazepam 90 minutes before the ketamine (2mg/kg intravenously) was intravenously administered as induction of anaesthesia. The pulse rate (PR) and mean arterial pressure (MAP) were measured non-invasively and recorded at 1 minute interval over 10 minutes after the induction of anaesthesia with intravenous ketamine 2mg/kg while the patients breathed 100% oxygen spontaneously.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In the 52 patients studied, the values of pulse rate (PR), systolic blood pressure (SBP), diastolic blood pressure (DBP) and mean arterial pressure (MAP) were significantly elevated above the baseline values by 22±14bpm, 15±11mmHg, 19±15mmHg, and 12±10mmHg respectively, with p=0.0001.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Ketamine induction of general anaesthesia exerts beneficial stimulatory effects on the cardiovascular system.
authors.affiliation: Dept of Anaesthesia, Faculty of Clinical Sciences, University of Ilorin, Ilorin, Nigeria.
authors.forename: Za
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Suleiman
authors.affiliation: Dept of Anaesthesia, Faculty of Clinical Sciences, University of Ilorin, Ilorin, Nigeria.
authors.forename: Kolawole
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Ik
authors.affiliation: Dept of Anaesthesia, Faculty of Clinical Sciences, University of Ilorin, Ilorin, Nigeria.
authors.forename: Bolaji
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Bo
keywords: Cardiovascular stimulations at induction; Ilorin; Ketamine; Nigeria