Oral ketamine for pain relief in a child with abdominal malignancy

Area of Science:

• Oncology
• Pain Management
• Pediatric Medicine

Background:

• Opioid analgesics are standard for cancer pain but can be ineffective or cause side effects.
• Limited research exists on non-opioid analgesics for pediatric cancer pain.
• Oral ketamine has shown efficacy in procedural sedation for pediatric oncology patients.

Observation:

• A pediatric patient with end-stage malignancy experienced severe pain refractory to optimal opioid therapy.
• The patient's pain was significantly alleviated after initiating oral ketamine treatment.

Findings:

• Oral ketamine demonstrated potent analgesic effects in a pediatric patient with refractory cancer pain.
• This case suggests oral ketamine can be a viable alternative or adjunct for severe pediatric cancer pain.
• The patient experienced significant pain reduction and improved quality of life with oral ketamine.

Implications:

• Oral ketamine may represent a novel therapeutic option for challenging pediatric cancer pain cases.
• Further clinical trials are warranted to establish the efficacy and safety of oral ketamine in pediatric cancer pain management.
• This finding could expand treatment paradigms for pediatric palliative care and oncology.