Rectal ketamine (Ketalar) for medical procedures in children requiring anesthesia
Klausen, N.O.; Nielsen, F.B.; Gram-Hansen, P.
Ugeskrift for Laeger 149(45): 3047-3048
1987
ISSN/ISBN: 0041-5782 PMID: 3433506 Document Number: 298357
Rectal ketamine (Ketalar) was employed to obtain anesthesia in 20 children aged 0.4-11 years where general anesthesia was required for brief neuroradiological investigations or treatment. In four cases, it proved possible to complete the planned procedure with the anesthesia obtained in this manner. In the remainder of the cases, anesthesia was maintained with smaller supplementary parenteral doses. In all of the cases, the leve of anesthesia obtained by rectal administration proved sufficient for painless transfer and alteration of the positions of the patients and administration of supplementary intramuscular injections or establishing of intravenous access. It is concluded that rectal ketamine is a promising alternative method for anesthesia in children.