Conscious sedation: Pharmacology.
Applied pharmacology
Ketamine
ADVANCED
Ketamine is a dissociative anaesthetic agent more… that is commonly used in advanced conscious sedation for medical and dental procedures.
It works by blocking the action of the neurotransmitter glutamate in the brain, leading to a dissociative state in which the patient remains conscious but feels detached from their surroundings.
Ketamine has dose-dependent sedative, anaesthetic, and analgesic effects. It can cause a rapid induction of anaesthesia at higher doses, allowing for deep sedation or general anaesthesia. At lower doses, it can provide analgesia and sedation without causing significant respiratory depression or cardiovascular effects.
Ketamine has several advantages over other sedative agents, particularly in patients with underlying respiratory or cardiovascular disease, as it does not cause significant respiratory depression or hypotension. It also has potent analgesic properties, making it effective in managing pain during and after procedures.
Ketamine is metabolised mainly in the liver and excreted in the urine.
It can cause several side effects. Can you list some of them?
Ketamine is a valuable drug for advanced conscious sedation due to its rapid onset, short duration of action, and potent analgesic properties. Its use requires careful monitoring and appropriate dosing to ensure patient safety, particularly in patients with underlying psychiatric disease.