ICU sedation, delirium & recovery
Ketamine sedation in the intensive care unit: a survey of Canadian intensivists
Authors' conclusion
This survey of Canadian intensivists illustrates that use of ketamine as a continuous infusion for sedation is limited, and is at least partly driven by concerns of adverse psychotropic effects.
Study context
- Population
- Physician members of the Canadian Critical Care Society (Canadian intensivists)87 (22%) completed
- Participants
- 400 members
- Outcome
- Beliefs and practices regarding ketamine as a sedative infusion in ICU patients, and interest in an RCT
Methodological detailselectronic self-administered survey, validated, Surveyed via email February–April 2022, three reminders at two-week intervals; redistributed January 2023
- Electronic self-administered survey
- Validated
- Surveyed via email February–April 2022, three reminders at two-week intervals; redistributed January 2023
Main finding
As reported in the abstract
Ketamine sedation practice and beliefs
- Rarely use ketamine as continuous infusion for sedation or analgesia in intensive care unit (ICU)
- 52/87, 58%
- More likely to use in asthma exacerbation
- 73/87, 82%
- More likely to use in tolerance to opioids
- 68/87, 77%
- More likely to use in status epilepticus
- 44/87, 50%
- More likely to use in severe ARDS
- 33/87, 38%
- Use limited by concern for adverse psychotropic effects
- 61/87, 69%
- Use limited by concern for delirium
- 47/87, 53%
- Agree an randomized controlled trial (RCT) of ketamine sedative infusion in ICU is needed
- 62/87, 71%
Observational data: associations, not effects.
Original publication
Ketamine sedation in the intensive care unit: a survey of Canadian intensivists. Can J Anaesth. Published 26 October 2023. doi:10.
Composed by AI from the published abstract and checked against it. How Briefs are made →