Escalating Ketamine Doses and Pre-emption

EARLY PREOPERATIVE ESCALATING DOSES OF KETAMINE ATTENUATE POSTOPERATIVE PAIN AND REDUCE MORPHINE CONSUMPTION IN HUMANS

Ketamine affects postoperative pain when administered intravenously immediately before, during or at the end of surgical procedures. We assessed the effects of multiple and escalating doses of ketamine administered many hours before surgery on postoperative pain and analgesia consumption.

Inclusion Criteria:

Consecutive patients, who were scheduled to undergo general or orthopedic oncologic surgery under general anesthesia

Exclusion Criteria:

1. allergy to opioids, ketamine or non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs)
2. history of lasting chronic pain or psychiatric disorders or had used opioids or psychotropic drugs of any sort during the past two weeks
3. soldiers and pregnant women