Preliminary report on ketamine in obstetrics

Abstract

Ketamine has been used as induction agent before standard anaesthesia in twenty-five patients undergoing Caesarean section and as sole agent for fifty-three vaginal obstetric procedures and for postpartum tubal ligation in twenty-two patients. It has no advantages over other induction agents although, despite a very light plane of anaesthesia, no patient had any memory of the operative procedure. Its intermittent use as sole agent for vaginal oprations was most encouraging. Its intense analgesic action and ease of airway maintenance in light anaesthesia were the main features with an acceptably low incidence of side effects and sequelae. Depression of the infant was minimal although hypertonus was noted on two occasions. © 1971 John Sherratt and Son Ltd.