Ketamine in burn wound management

ABSTRACT

Modern day treatment of burns often involves early tangential excision of the wound, followed by autografting or coverage with biological dressings. These procedures are painful and frightening for patients. Most general anesthetic agents cause immunosuppression in already metabolically stressed patient and may cause liver damage. They also require full time attention of anesthesiologist. To counter these difficulties a short acting anaesthetic agent Ketamine, was tried in burn patients. Ketamine was given intravenously in a dose of 2mg / kg body weight. Thirty-two cases were studied and total dose of Ketamine administered ranged between 50 mg and 200 mg. Duration of the procedures ranged between 20 minutes and 50 minutes. Untoward reactions included only increased salivation, vomiting and unpleasant dreams in two cases. We conclude that Ketamine is a useful agent for minor intervention of the burn wound