Objectives: Ketamine is an effective, safe, rapid, short-acting anesthetic drug, and - contrary to all other anesthetic drugs - it does not decrease blood pressure. It is widely believed that Ketamine increases intracranial pressure (ICP), which prevents its use in many emergency situations, including trauma and specifically in patients with traumatic brain injury (TBI) and with increased ICP. Based on our previous clinical experience in patients with ICP monitoring, Ketamine did not increase ICP. We therefore hypothesize that Ketamine decreases - rather than increases - ICP.
Methods: Prospective, controlled, clinical trial performed in a Pediatric ICU of a regional trauma center. Children with ICP monitoring receive a single Ketamine dose (1-1.5 mg/kg) either for increased ICP and/or before a potentially distressing activity. Hemodynamic variables, ICP and cerebral perfusion pressure (CPP) will be recorded 1 minute before and every minute for 10 minutes following Ketamine administration (before/after study design).
Parents/guardian of patients will be informed and asked to sign an informed consent.
