TDNet Discover

Introduction: Ketamine has redefined its role in surgical management, offering a unique pharmacological profile that expands its place in multimodal analgesia strategies. Ketamine’s dual use as an anesthetic and analgesic provides effective pain control while preserving respiratory and cardiovascular hemodynamics. By reducing central sensitization as an NMDAreceptor antagonist, ketamine shows value in the intraoperative setting by preventing amplification of pain signals within the central nervous system. Most importantly, this nonopioid adjunct has proven to significantly reduce opioid requirements in the perioperative period. The literature review findings indicate that intraoperative ketamine use is effective and safe, offering an additional option to providers for a multimodal approach. In examining ketamine’s potential benefits, the published studies included in the literature review primarily focus on its safety profile, effects on patient recovery, and its influence on facility-level outcomes. Results from the literature review consistently highlight ketamine’s efficacy as an intraoperative adjunct that can enhance patient outcomes through improved pain scores, a reduction in postoperative consumption of rescue opioids, and improved facility turnover. The goal of this project aims to determine whether education to anesthesia providers about subanesthetic ketamine use during a general anesthetic will impact their perception on its role in the intraoperative setting. While the literature supports the utilization of intraoperative ketamine, the reviewers are looking to determine if a relationship exists between providing a formal educational session to anesthesia providers and impact on perception and decision-making regarding its intraoperative use.