Pain & Central Nervous System Week

Studies from S.N. Piper and colleagues yield new information about anesthesiology

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"The aim of this study was to assess the effects of postoperative analgosedation with propofol and S(+)-ketamine when compared to standard propofol analgosedation in terms of recovery, dreaming, hemodynamics, and patient satisfaction. Forty-eight patients were sedated with propofol (1-3 mg/kg/h) after coronoary artery bypass grafting and allocated randomly on admission to the intensive care unit to receive either S(+)ketamine (2 mg mg/kg/h; group A) or 0.9% saline as a placebo (group B) in a double-blind fashion. If necessary, boli of 3.75 mg piritramide (an opioid) were given in both groups. receiving S(+)-ketamine had significantly higher satisfaction for pain management (Visual Analog Scale [VAS] = group A: median 10 [range 9-10]; group B: median 9 [range 6-10]) despite their lower piritramide consumption," wrote S.N. Piper and colleagues.

The researchers concluded: "Receiving S(+)ketamine showed significantly faster eye opening (82 +/- 51 vs 156 +/- 110 min) but dreamed significantly more often (at 2 h, 67% in group A vs 29% in group B; at 24 h, 43% in group A vs 10% in group B), whereas no significant differences were detected in the incidence of nightmares at 2 h, 14% in group A vs 10% in group B; at 24 h, 5% in group A vs 5% in group B. Patients receiving S(+)-ketamine showed higher satisfaction for pain management and dreamed more often, but they, did not have more nightmares."

Piper and colleagues published their study in Minerva Anestesiologica (Assessment of recovery, dreaming, hemodynamics, and satisfaction in postcardiac surgery patients receiving supplementary propofol sedation with S(+)-ketamine. Minerva Anestesiologica, 2009;75(6):363-373).

For more information, contact S.N. Piper, Hospital Frankenthal, Dept. of Anesthesiology & Intensive Care Medical, D-67227 Frankenthal, Germany.

Publisher contact information for the journal Minerva Anestesiologica is: Edizioni Minerva Medica, Corso Bramante 83-85 International Journals Dept., 10126 Turin, Italy.

Keywords: Germany, Life Sciences, Medical Device, Coronary Artery Bypass Graft, Surgical Technology, Surgery, Heart Disease, Coronary Disease, Cardiology, Heart Bypass Surgery, Coronary Artery Disease, Propofol, Pharmaceuticals, Drugs, Therapy, Treatment, Ketamine, Analgesic, Anesthetic, Pain Medicine, Analgesia, Cardiac Surgery, Anesthesiology.

This article was prepared by Pain & Central Nervous System Week editors from staff and other reports. Copyright 2009, Pain & Central Nervous System Week via NewsRx.com.