Push vs Short Infusion

Better Slow Down – Push vs. Short Infusion of Low Dose Ketamine for Pain 

in the Emergency Department

SGEM#198 - November 28, 2017 - By Salim Rezaie

"Clinical Question: Does increasing the duration of the ketamine from IV push (3 – 5 min) to a slow infusion (10 – 15 min) mitigate some of the untoward side effects, while maintaining analgesic efficacy?

SGEM Bottom Line: Slowing down the rate of low-dose IV ketamine infusion to 15 minutes significantly reduces rates of the feeling of unreality and sedation with no difference in analgesic efficacy when compared to IV push over 3 – 5 minutes."