Association Between Receipt of Ketamine vs Etomidate for Emergency Tracheal Intubation and Symptoms of Posttraumatic Stress Disorder at 12 Months.
CHEST critical care June 1, 2025 Lucas C Wollenman, Austin M Tipold, Matthew W Semler et al. 1 citation
Among critically ill patients receiving mechanical ventilation, those given ketamine for emergency tracheal intubation had fewer posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms at 12 months than those given etomidate. PTSD symptoms were measured with the PCL-5 scale (0-80). The median score was 7 for the ketamine group and 14 for the etomidate group. Probable PTSD (score ≥31) occurred in 15.4% of ketamine patients versus 20.2% of etomidate patients. The analysis adjusted for age, race, sex, education, pre-existing depression or PTSD, comorbidities, illness severity, sepsis, and intubation location. These results suggest a protective association but require confirmation in a randomized trial.