A fixed-dose ketamine protocol for adolescent sedations in a pediatric emergency department

Objectives To assess provider and patient satisfaction with a fixed-dose ketamine protocol for procedural sedation of adolescent subjects. We further compared data for normal weight (body mass index [BMI] ≤25 kg/m²) vs overweight/obese subjects (BMI >25 kg/m²). Study design Prospective, observational cohort study of adolescent patients undergoing procedural sedation in a pediatric emergency department. Adequate sedation was defined as a Ramsay Sedation Score (RSS) ≥5. Subjects received an initial 50 mg intravenous ketamine dose followed by 25 mg intravenous doses to maintain an RSS ≥5. The sedating physician, procedural physician, and sedating nurse independently rated the sedations on a 100 mm visual analog scale (0 = "very unsatisfied", 100 = "very satisfied"). Subjects and their guardians were contacted 12-24 hours postsedation. Results Forty-three subjects (26 normal weight, 17 overweight/obese), aged 12-17 years, were enrolled in the study. An RSS ≥5 was observed in 35 (81.4%) of the subjects following the initial 50 mg ketamine dose and in the remaining 8 subjects following the first additional 25 mg dose. The median combined provider satisfaction score for the sedations was 92.7 (IQR 83.7-95.0) and was similar for the normal weight and overweight/obese groups (93.1 [IQR 84.6-95.9] vs 89.7 [IQR 83.7-93.5], respectively, P =.27). Subjects and guardians in both groups reported high rates of satisfaction. Conclusion The fixed-dose ketamine protocol resulted in an adequate level of sedation and high provider/patient satisfaction for the majority of patients regardless of weight or BMI status.