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[Ketamine for paediatric anaesthesia: useful, fool or...?]
1Department of anesthesiology, catholic university of Louvain, Saint-Luc hospital, Brussels, Belgium. dekock@anes.ucl.ac.be <dekock@anes.ucl.ac.be>
Annales Francaises D'Anesthesie Et De Reanimation
|May 26, 2007
Summary
Ketamine use in children for sedation, anesthesia, and analgesia is increasing. However, research suggests ketamine may trigger harmful neuronal apoptosis in developing brains, questioning its pediatric benefits.
Area of Science:
- Anesthesiology
- Neuroscience
- Pediatric Medicine
Context:
- Ketamine is increasingly used for pediatric sedation, anesthesia, and analgesia.
- Adult use is also growing due to demonstrated antihyperalgesic and anti-inflammatory properties.
- This review examines ketamine's established and potential benefits and risks in pediatric patients.
Purpose:
- To review ketamine's properties and widespread use in pediatric sedation-analgesia-anesthesia.
- To question the existence of antihyperalgesic and anti-inflammatory benefits in pediatric populations.
- To discuss the potential neurotoxic effects of ketamine on the developing brain.
Summary:
- Ketamine's use in pediatric sedation-analgesia-anesthesia is expanding, despite alternatives.
- The review questions if antihyperalgesic and anti-inflammatory benefits seen in adults apply to children.
- Experimental data indicate ketamine can induce neuronal apoptosis in developing brains.
Impact:
- Highlights the need for caution regarding ketamine's use in pediatric anesthesia.
- Suggests further research into the long-term neurological effects of ketamine in children.
- Informs clinical practice by presenting a balanced view of ketamine's risks and benefits in pediatric patients.
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