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Prolonged apnea with intramuscular ketamine: a case report
Nirmala Jonnavithula1, Dilip K Kulkarni, Gopinath Ramachandran
1Department of Anaesthesiology and Critical Care, Nizam's Institute of Medical Sciences, Punjagutta, Hyderabad, India. nirmala_712@sify.com
Paediatric Anaesthesia
|March 5, 2008
Summary
A rare case of prolonged apnea occurred in an 11-month-old child after receiving ketamine for surgery. This highlights ketamine
Area of Science:
- Anesthesiology
- Pediatric Medicine
- Pharmacology
Background:
- Ketamine is frequently used as an anesthetic agent in pediatric patients for various procedures.
- Intramuscular administration offers a viable route when intravenous access is challenging.
Observation:
- A healthy 11-month-old female infant received intramuscular ketamine as the sole anesthetic for a brief surgical intervention.
- Following administration, the child exhibited significant respiratory depression and prolonged apnea.
Findings:
- The patient required endotracheal intubation and mechanical ventilation due to apnea.
- Complete recovery was achieved after 90 minutes of supportive care.
Implications:
- This case underscores the potential respiratory hazards associated with ketamine, particularly in young children.
- It emphasizes the critical need for vigilant monitored anesthesia care and preparedness for emergency airway management when using ketamine.
- Clinicians should carefully weigh the risks and benefits and ensure appropriate monitoring and resuscitation capabilities.
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