JOURNAL HOME CME HOME THIS MONTH PAST ISSUES ETOC COLLECTIONS AUTHORS REVIEWERS EDITORIAL BOARD FEEDBACK RSS HELP
		QUICK SEARCH:   [advanced] Author: Keyword(s): Year:  Vol:  Page:

This Article Full Text (PDF) Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Services Email this article to a colleague Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Citing Articles Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Rees, D. I. Articles by Howell, M. L. Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Rees, D. I. Articles by Howell, M. L.

Ketamine-Atracurium by Continuous Infusion as the Sole Anesthetic for Pulmonary Surgery

Received from the Department of Anesthesiology, University of Texas Health Science Center, Parkland Memorial Hospital, Dallas, Texas.

Abstract

Fifty patients undergoing elective pulmonary resection were studied to evaluate the effects of the infusion of the combination of ketamine (2 mg·kg^–1·hr^–1) combined with atracurium (0.6 mg·kg^–1·hr^–1) on heart rate (HR), mean arterial pressure (MAP), neuromuscular block (NMB) and patient acceptability. Induction of anesthesia was accomplished in all patients within 45 sec. Statistically significant increases (P < 0.01) in MAP and HR occurred only after bronchoscopy and tracheal intubation (mean 12 mm Hg and 6 beats/min, respectively), subsequently returning to preinduction levels and remaining stable. The degree of NMB once established remained constant in each patient, 86% maintaining 1–4 twitches throughout surgery. Reversal of neuromuscular blockade was achieved within 10 min of antagonist drug administration in all but one patient. Recovery from anesthesia occurred within 30 min (mean <15 min) in all but 3 patients (all over age 60) and was independent of weight. No emergence phenomena were observed. We conclude that ketamine-atracurium fixed-rate combined infusion anesthesia provides good operating conditions and neuromuscular relaxation, cardiovascular stability, patient acceptability, and no significant side effects in patients undergoing pulmonary resections.

Key Words: ANESTHETICS, INTRAVENOUS—ketamine • ANESTHETIC TECHNIQUES—intravenous

Anesthesia & Analgesia® is published for the International Anesthesia Research Society® by Lippincott Williams & Wilkins with the assistance of Stanford University Libraries' HighWire Press®. Copyright 2006 by the International Anesthesia Research Society. Online ISSN: 1526-7598   Print ISSN: 0003-2999