Episode 21 - Ketamine For Agitation

Dr. Dickson and Dr. Patrick take on one of our favorite topics here at MCHD - Ketamine and the agitated patient. Agitated patients come in a wide spectrum of severity. This discussion starts with a framework for stratifying agitated patients. We discuss the MCHD ketamine experience along with a less discussed patient population that may need ketamine control quicker than we often think. ***Remember that Ketamine is only to be used for patient protection and is never intended to be used out of convenience.*** References: 1. https://www.ems1.com/medical-clinical/articles/78100048-Ketamine-for-Excited-Delirium-Syndrome-Results-of-a-3-year-case-series/ 2. Green et al. Clinical Practice Guideline for Emergency Department Ketamine Dissociative Sedation. Ann Emerg Med. 2011; 57:449-61 3. Cole J et al. A prospective study of ketamine as primary therapy for prehospital profound agitation. Am J Emerg Med. October 2017 4. Parsch C et al. Ketamine reduces the need for intubation in patients with acute severe mental illness and agitation requiring transport to definitive care: An observational study. Emerg Med Australas. 2017;29(3):291-296