PATIENT PREFERENCE FOR KETAMINE

Comment: The Editor has had several patients whose reaction to ketamine corroborates the present report. One who had been anesthetized 3 times prior to a 3 hour operation using ketamine, when asked about her reaction to ketamine, replied: “Oh, everybody should have that nice anesthetic!” Chlorpromazine, 25 mg. per 70 kg., given i.v. at least 5 minutes before the ketamine, obviates most of the emergence phenomena. Moreover, about 0.6 mg. of ketamine per pound is then adequate. The hypertension is much less than with ketamine alone. Sleeping time is prolonged, however. When cardiovascular stability and spontaneous respiration are crucial factors in the safety of the patient, the positive value of ketamine far outweighs any emergence excitement.