The Effect of Different Doses of Ketamine on Postoperative Hallucination: A Cross-Sectional Study
Dijlah Journal of Medical Sciences P-ISSN 3078-3178 E-ISSN 3078-8625 May 23, 2026 Suha Adel Qasim Al-Ani
Postoperative hallucinations and other psychotropic effects are known side effects of ketamine that may be dose-dependent. In a study of 62 people (32 males, 30 females) aged 16–60 undergoing various surgeries under general anesthesia, different doses of ketamine (30, 40, 50, and 100 mg/kg) and durations of administration (10–20, 21–30, 31–40, and more than 40 minutes) were evaluated. Hallucination types (visual, auditory, or both) and severity scores (mild, moderate, severe) were monitored. Results showed significant differences between doses and durations with hallucination types and scores. The incidence and severity of postoperative hallucinations are closely tied to the dose: low doses are related to reduced risk, while moderate and high doses significantly increase risk.