Objective: The effect of ketamine on intubation condition, when used as an induction agent with low-dose rocuronium, is unknown. This study aimed to compare the effects of three doses of ketamine used with 0.3 mg/kg rocuronium and 1 µg/kg fentanyl on intubation conditions in children undergoing short elective surgery.
Patients and methods: The study was performed as a prospective, randomized double-blind clinical trial. A total of 60 children aged 2 to 12 years, who were scheduled for inguinal herniorrhaphy under general anesthesia, were randomly allocated into three groups on the basis of ketamine dose: 1 mg/kg (Group K1, n = 20), 1.5 mg/kg (Group K1.5, n = 20), and 2 mg/kg (Group K2, n = 20). The primary outcome was the intubation condition. Other assessments included hemodynamic data, recovery profile, adverse events in the postanesthetic care unit (PACU) and use of fentanyl as a rescue analgesic in the PACU were also assessed.
Results: The occurrence of a clinically acceptable intubation condition increased with the use of an increased dose (≥ 1.5 mg/kg) (K1/K1.5/K2: 30%/65%/65%; p=0.038, for trends p=0.028). Hemodynamic data, recovery profile and adverse events in PACU showed no difference among groups. Fentanyl dose used in the PACU was higher in K1 than K2 and the number of patients requiring rescue analgesics in the PACU decreased in accordance with the dose of ketamine (K1/K1.5/K2: 30%/15%/0%; p=.031, for trends p=0.013).
Conclusions: Different intubation conditions were observed on the basis of ketamine dose used in conjunction with 0.3 mg/kg rocuronium and fentanyl 1 µg/kg. Ketamine dose ≥ 1.5 mg/kg with low-dose rocuronium should be used to improve intubation conditions in pediatrics.