Therapeutic Applications of Ketamine in Emergency Medicine: Systematic Review
Grande Medical Journal December 22, 2025 Suraj Gyawali, Rajeeb Raj Thapaliya, Olita Shilpakar et al.
Ketamine is a dissociative anesthetic that preserves airway reflexes and cardiovascular stability, making it useful in emergency medicine. A systematic review of 18 articles from 2000 to 2024 found that sub-dissociative doses provide effective analgesia with opioid-sparing effects, procedural sedation in children has high success rates, and ketamine offers hemodynamic stability during rapid sequence intubation. It is effective in refractory asthma and acute agitation, often avoiding intubation. Its affordability and stability make it valuable in resource-limited settings. Ketamine remains a versatile and evidence-based option in emergency care.