Multi-organ Failure in a Patient With Chronic Ketamine Use: A Case Report.
Ayoyimika O Okunlola, Syahmina Sufrian, Temitope O Ajao, G K M Rashik Uzzaman, Cornelius J Fernandez
Cureus November 1, 2024 Peer reviewed DOI: 10.7759/cureus.74158 via PubMed
Summary
Long-term ketamine abuse can damage multiple organs simultaneously, as revealed in a striking medical case. A 24-year-old developed severe complications including ketamine bladder syndrome, acute kidney injury, and heart problems. The patient showed gastric dilatation, hydronephrosis, and liver issues. While stopping ketamine use helped, organ damage proved difficult to fully reverse, highlighting the serious risks of recreational use.
Abstract
Ketamine is increasingly used as a recreational drug. The report outlines the various multi-organ dysfunctions identified following chronic abuse in a 24-year-old patient with no significant past medical history and the subsequent patient management. Besides ketamine cessation, other treatments only provide suboptimal relief to the damage inflicted by the toxic ketamine metabolites.