Does slow infusion reduce the associated dysphoric side effects of ketamine?
BEEM Bottom Line
Why is this study important?
Ketamine has been used for anesthesia for over 4 decades, and because of its safety and effectiveness, it is on the World Health Organization’s List of Essential Medicines. Low ketamine doses (< 1 mg/kg) do not induce anesthesia but have proven effective as adjunct analgesics and offer a potential alternative to parenteral opioids in the emergency department (ED).[1] However, even low doses can induce unpleasant psychoperceptual side effects. This superiority trial sought to determine if these unpleasant effects could be mitigated by slower administration of ketamine compared to intravenous (IV) bolus.
Which, if any, threats to validity are most likely to have an impact on the results and how?
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