trauma-list Digest, Vol 50, Issue 5

[Stephen Richey]

"There is no reason to use ketamine when the preponderance of the world's
literature says it isn't safe."

What's strange is that if you look at the actual literature, the journal
articles specifically, there are quite a few, dating back to the 1970's that
state that it does not raise ICP in numerous settings (including
neurosurgical patients), and there is more recent literature indicating it
actually has neuroprotective effects to some degree (although the later is
still being  debated because it is largely based on limited studies in
rabbits and other small mammals).  If anyone wants these articles, please
contact me off list as I have them on my hard drive (I'm slowly working on a
lit review on the subject) and will send them to anyone who is interested.

To be quite honest, I'm beginning to wonder where the evidence for the
admonition not to use it in head trauma patients is because it doesn't seem
to be very easily found.  Of course, I'm just an RT, what the hell do I
know.......


-- 
Stephen L. Richey, CRT

"It is better to know some of the questions than all of the answers."- James
Thurber