respiratory effects of ketamine in asthmatic patients

ABSTRACT

Clinical and pulmonary function studies including blood gas measurements were done on 20 volunteers 10 controls and 10 asthmatics for evaluation of the respiratory effects of ketamine. During anaesthesia two asthmatic patients got apnea, 2 got cough while in controls one got apnea and another got cough. No dysrrhythmia developed in both groups. Pulmonary function and blood gas studies showed that ketamine does not significantly alter lung function in asthmatic patients. It can be concluded that ketamine can be safely given to asthmatic patients