LOW DOSE KETAMINE AT INDUCTION OF ANESTHESIA CAN HAVE OPIOID SPARING EFFECTS IN IMMEDIATE POST-OPERATIVE PERIOD FOLLOWING LAPAROSCOPIC CHOLECYSTECTOMY

Abstract

Introduction: Laparoscopic Cholecystectomy (LC), a minimally invasive surgical procedure, has gained widespread use in recent decades. Although these operations are less invasive, they need postoperative analgesia. In this context, Ketamine may decrease postoperative pain and opioid use. Due to the considerable variability in studies regarding the efficacy of ketamine for pain management across various surgical procedures, anesthetic techniques, and administration methods and dosages, this study sought to examine the preemptive application of low-dose ketamine in patients undergoing laparoscopic cholecystectomy, with the potential to diminish opioid consumption and associated side effects during the recovery phase.

Aims & Objectives: To compare the mean pain score in a group receiving low- dose bolus of ketamine (0.1mg/kg) (K group) to a control group receiving normal saline (C group), in patients undergoing laparoscopic cholecystectomy. 

Material & Methods: This was a randomized controlled trial conducted at the Department of Anesthesiology at Combined Military Hospital (CMH), Lahore. A total of 72 patients were equally distributed into two groups of 36 patients each (Group K and Group C) using non-probability consecutive technique.

Results: In this study the mean age of the cases in Group K was 36.14 ± 6.66 years while in Group C was 39.56 ± 5.09. There were 19 (52.8%) males found in Group K while 17 (47.2%) in Group C. The mean of VAS score at 1st hour was 6.89 ± 1.19 in Group K and 6.50 ± 1.73 in Group C with insignificant p-value 0.271. Similarly, the mean of VAS score at 6th and 24th hour was 4.72 ± 0.51 and 4.64 ± 1.27 in Group K and 5.58 ± 1.18 and 6.06 ± 2.14 in Group C with significant p-value < 0.01.

Conclusion: Low-dose ketamine (0.1 mg/kg) was found to be effective in reducing pain scores at 6th and 24th hour post-operatively