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Arterial Hypoxemia Caused by Intravenous Ketamine

E. K. ZSIGMOND, MD^*, A. MATSUKI, MD, S. P. KOTHARY, MBBS, and M. JALLAD, BS

*Professor of Anesthesiology, Department of Anesthesiology, University of Michigan Medical Center, Ann Arbor, Michigan 48104. Assistant Professor of Anesthesiology, Department of Anesthesiology and Anesthesia Research Laboratories, University of Hirosaki, Hirosaki, Aomori-Ken, Japan. Research Associate, Departments of Anesthesiology and Anesthesia Research Laboratories, University of Michigan Medical Center. Anesthesiology Technician, Departments of Anesthesiology and Anesthesia Research Laboratories, University of Michigan Medical Center.

Abstract

Ketamine given IV in a dose of 2 mg/kg caused a significant reduction in Pao₂. in 7 patients spontaneously breathing with an unassisted airway. Under the same conditions, in 7 patients, ketamine (2 mg/kg IV) preceded by diazepam (0.2 mg/kg IV) also caused a reduction in Pao₂ not significantly different from that caused by ketamine. In some patients, alarmingly low levels of Pao₂ ( 40 torr) were seen following ketamine administration. Based on these findings, the authors recommend that O₂ and ventilatory assistance accompany ketamine given IV for anesthesia.

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