Der Schmerz
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Randomized Controlled Trial Clinical Trial
[Lack of pre-emptive analgesic effect of low-dose ketamine in postoperative patients. A prospective, randomised double-blind study].
NMDA receptors are assumed to play an important role for neuronal plasticity. In vitro and animal experiments confirmed that NMDA antagonistic drugs can prevent hyperexitability of dorsal root neurons after strong pain stimuli. Clinical data, however, are more or less controversial in this respect. ⋯ Cumulative PCA piritramide consumption after 24 hours was 25.0+/-16.2 mg in the ketamine group and 29.5+/-20.4 mg in the placebo group. Ketamine-specific side effects such as hallucinations or bad dreams were not observed. It is concluded that under the study conditions used, low dose ketamine, contrary to previously reported results [30], does not provide a clinically relevant pre-emptive analgesic effect in postoperative patients.