Anaesthtic agent for diagnostic and surgical procedures.

Emergence reactions(vivid dreams, hallucinations, irrational behaviour). Increased muscle tone sometimes resembling seizure .

Temporary hypertension, Hypotension, bradycardia, arrhythmias, May increase intracranial pressure.

Respiratory depression (during induction)requring assited ventilation. Post- anaesthetic nausea, vomiting, headache.

Hypertension,severe angina, MI raised intracranial pressure psychiatric disorders.

Special precautions:

Glaucoma, elderly, alcholic, epilepsy.

Indications:

Anaesthtic agent for diagnostic and surgical procedures.

Dosage:

Individualise dose. IV route- varies from to 1 to 4.5mg/kg. The average amount to produce 5 to 10 minutes of surgical anesthesia is 2mg/kg..

Pharmacology:

Ketamine is rapid-acting anesthetic producing an anestheticstate characterised by prolonged anlgesia, normal pharyngeal fefluxes, normal or slightly enhanced skeletal muscle tone, cardiovascular and respiratory stimulation and occassionally, a transceint and minimal respiratory depression.

Pharmacokinetics:

Following IV admin, the keatmine concentration has an initial slope lasting about 45 minutes with a half-life of 10 to15 minutes, coresponding to the anaethetic effect.

Pregnancy:

Safety for use in pregnancy has not been established. Use with caution.