A study on the efficacy of low dose ketamine infusion in reducing postoperative analgesic requirement of patients undergoing mastoidectomy and tympanoplasty I

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Prevention of the occurrence of central sensitization has been one of the reasons for the use of preemptive medications like ketamine, an NMDA receptor antagonist. This study was conducted to test the efficacy of low dose ketamine infusion in decreasing opioid requirements postoperatively METHODS: Thirty patients scheduled for mastoidectomy and tympanoplasty were randomly allocated to 2 groups Group I- continuous infusion of ketamine (10 ug/kg/min) and Group II- control group. The time from end of procedure to the first request for analgesia, VAPS, MAP and HR were recorded RESULTS: The duration of analgesia was statistically significant in the ketamine group. VAPS, was likewise lower in the ketamine group. CONCLUSION: Ketamine, as an NMDA antagonist provides an alternative to decreased postoperative opioid requirement by attenuating the establishment of control sensitization. (Author)