Evaluating the Use of Ketamine for Pain Control With Sickle Cell Crisis in Pregnancy: A Report of 2 Cases

Alexis C Gimovsky1, Kate Fritton, Eugene Viscusi

  • 1From the Division of Maternal Fetal Medicine, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, The George Washington University School of Medicine and Health Sciences, Washington, DC; Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland; Division of Acute Pain Management, Department of Anesthesia, Sidney Kimmel Medical College at Thomas Jefferson University Hospital, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania; and Division of Maternal Fetal Medicine, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Sidney Kimmel Medical College at Thomas Jefferson University Hospital, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

A&A Practice
|August 15, 2017
PubMed

Sickle cell crises occur frequently during pregnancy and are difficult to treat, even with high-dose opioids. Analgesia with ketamine has been suggested as an alternative, but its use during pregnancy is underreported. Two pregnant patients with uncontrolled sickle cell pain were treated with ketamine. Patient A reported no decrease in her pain, but her opioid requirements decreased. Patient B's pain resolved during ketamine administration. No serious maternal or neonatal adverse effects occurred. Ketamine may be considered as an adjunct analgesic in pregnant patients with sickle cell pain, although prospective clinical data are needed to fully assess its efficacy.

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