Impact of Continuous Infusion Ketamine Compared to Continuous Infusion Benzodiazepines on Delirium in the Intensive Care Unit.
Journal of intensive care medicine December 1, 2024 Nicholas J Vollmer, Erin D Wieruszewski, Andrea M Nei et al. 3 citations
Among critically ill, mechanically ventilated patients, continuous infusion of sedative-dose ketamine did not improve delirium- or coma-free days compared with continuous infusion of benzodiazepines. The median number of delirium- or coma-free days within the first 28 days was 1.2 for ketamine and 1.8 for benzodiazepines, a difference that was not statistically significant. Patients receiving ketamine spent less time at a desired sedation level, received more propofol and fentanyl, and had a longer intensive care unit stay. The findings suggest that ketamine offers no advantage over benzodiazepines for reducing delirium or coma in this population.