Is low-dose ketamine as effective and safe as morphine for analgesia in the emergency department?

BEEM Bottom Line

Why is this study important?

Pain is a common symptom of patients presenting to the emergency department (ED). Adequate analgesia is important for appropriate assessment and management of ED patients. While opioid analgesia has been the mainstay of treatment for severe pain in the ED, it is not without risk and side effects. This systematic review and meta-analysis compared low dose ketamine to morphine for pain management in the ED.

Which, if any, threats to validity are most likely to have an impact on the results and how?

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