Ketamine - disadvantages in trauma pts.

[Mathias Kalkum]

Ivan e.a.,
> - snip - 
>  
> Ketamine increases cerebral metabolism, CBF, and ICP. Because of its excitatory CNS effects, which can be detected by generalized EEG development of theta-wave activity,[463] as well as by petit mal seizure-like activity in the hippocampus,[482] ketamine increases CMRO2.
- snip -

the issue of whether ketamin is a suitable agent in the field for trauma
patients, especially in the group of those with head injuries, turns up
every year or two in this group. To make a long story short: the
"disadvantages of ketamin" in trauma are a remnant in barely actualised
textbooks. Outside of these the drug is used for decades in many
countries of the world, has (at least in small series and reports) been
proved to be as well safe and effective and is actually recommended as
safe in the treatment of skull / head / braintrauma. Thus it has made
it's way in the current guidelines at least in my country
(http://www.uni-duesseldorf.de/WWW/AWMF/ll/030-076.htm).

Maybe we should add a small chapter on drugs in braintrauma to this
page: http://www.trauma.org/index.php/main/article/392/

Cheers!

Mathias