[Ketamine as a treatment of bronchospasm due to an anaphylaxis. A case report]

Ketamine is used in intravenous anesthesia for the maintenance in the general anesthesia. It has characteristics to prevent the difficult of breathing due to bronchospasm, as well as the delivery of histamine associated with asthmatic attack. These effects come from the direct action in the bronchial muscle, as well as from the potentiation of its catecholamines, which is why its use is very controversial, given that there are not enough trials to back it up. Moreover, the effect of ketamine on bronchospasm due to anaphylactic reaction has not been studied. The election treatment is epinephrine and there are factors associated with its use. The objective was to present the case of a patient with a history of allergic reaction to midazolam, who presented bronchospasm due to the administration of this drug, and who received unconventional treatment with positive outcomes.

We present the case of a young female with a history of allergies to medicines, specifically to benzodiazepines, who presented bronchospasm and oxygen saturation drop after receiving a dose of midazolam into her eye while she was working. The use of ketamine was proposed after adrenaline, a beta-agonist, inhaled anticholinergics, a steroid and antihistamine drugs were used.

Trials are needed in order to demonstrate the efficacy of ketamine in this particular context; however, the outcome in this case was positive.