[Subanaesthetic doses of ketamine for obstetric delivery (author's transl)]

Twenty five parturients were anaesthetized by administration of 0.3 mg ketamine per kg body weight intravenously before emergence of the head of the newborn infant. 20 patients had complete amnesia for the time of delivery, but most of them remained cooperative, nevertheless. Of the other 5 patients, 3 recounted that they recalled the birth of their child like remembering a dream, but they did not remember pain. The method proved a failure in the case of two patients. The main advantage of this technique lies in keeping most of the parturients cooperative and able to help with pushing, while offering them amnesia and analgesia for this period. Comparison with thiopental and propanidide is discussed.