Clinical studies of induction agents XXXVII: Amnesic action of ketamine

Abstract

Summary: In the absence of depressant premedicants the incidence of pre-operative retrograde amnesia with ketamine is negligible and similar to that found with methohexitone. However, memory for events occuring 1 hour after apparent recovery is often impaired, the frequency of this event increasing with the total dose of ketamine given. A much higher incidence of amnesia is found when ketamine is given after heavy premedication, but again is no greater than that found when methohexitone is given after the same premedicants. © 1971 John Sherratt and Son Ltd.