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Changes in serum enzyme levels following ketamine infusions
Anaesthesia
|January 1, 1980
Summary
Ketamine anesthesia may elevate serum enzyme levels, indicating potential liver strain, especially after intermediate surgeries. Further research is needed to understand the clinical significance of these findings in patients undergoing ketamine anesthesia.
Area of Science:
- Anesthesiology
- Hepatology
- Biochemistry
Background:
- Serum enzymes are indicators of liver health.
- Toxic hepatitis is associated with elevated serum enzyme levels.
- Anesthesia techniques can impact postoperative liver enzyme profiles.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the effect of ketamine infusions versus standard anesthesia on serum enzyme levels.
- To compare postoperative enzyme elevations between ketamine and standard anesthesia groups.
Main Methods:
- Serum enzyme levels were measured preoperatively and on postoperative days 3-4 and 13-15.
- Patients received either ketamine infusions (n=54) or standard anesthesia (n=64).
- Significant enzyme elevation was defined as levels outside the normal range and >3 SD from controls.
Main Results:
- Postoperative enzyme elevations occurred in 2/20 patients under ketamine during minor gynecological operations, with none in the standard group.
- Following intermediate operations, 14/34 ketamine-anesthetized patients showed abnormal enzyme levels versus 7/34 in the standard group.
- Six patients in the ketamine series had more than one abnormal test, compared to none in the standard group.
Conclusions:
- Ketamine anesthesia may be associated with a higher incidence of transient serum enzyme elevations compared to standard techniques, particularly after intermediate surgeries.
- The clinical significance and underlying causes of these enzyme elevations require further investigation.