Ketamine Hydrochloride: A Useful but Frequently Misused Drug

Background: Ketamine hydrochloride remains the most widely misused general anaesthetic agent in our environment today. The misuse, which commonly involves non-anaesthetists, often results in disastrous consequences. Methods: A Medline literature search was performed to identify articles concerning the pharmacology, clinical features, uses and complications of ketamine hydrochloride. Standard textbooks of anaethesia were also consulted and some local scientific publications on the subject were reviewed. Result: Ketamine is readily available and widely used by both surgeons and general practitioners working in the tropics. The drug has been found useful for superficial minor and intermediate surgical procedures in regions where there is a dearth of anesthetists. Its unique features, simplicity of administration and relative safety, which has made it useful in the hands of non-anaesthetists, have also led to widespread abuse. Conclusion: There is need for surgeons and other "occasional anaesthetists" to be well informed on the correct uses, limitations and dangers of ketamine anaesthesia to enhance patients' safety. (Nig J Surg Res 2001; 3: 118 – 125) KEY WORDS: Ketamine Hydrochloride, Useful, Misuse