Journals / Anatolian Journal of Emergency Medicine / 2026 / Cilt: 9 Sayı: 2

Pediatric Procedural Sedation and Analgesia with Ketamine and Adverse Events in the Emergency Department

Ketamin ile Pediatrik Girişimsel Sedasyon Analjezi ve Acil Serviste Gelişen İstenmeyen Olaylar

Mücahit Balci(Gölköy State Hospital)0000-0001-7838-5797
Süleyman İbze(AKDENİZ ÜNİVERSİTESİ)0000-0002-0927-0029
Pages
72–76
Publication Date
2026-06-28
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AI Summary & Key Takeaways

AI Insight
⚡ TL;DR(Too Long; Didn't Read)

Ketamine demonstrates a favorable safety profile with no serious adverse events, confirming that single-agent PSA is a reliable practice in the pediatric ED when managed with appropriate clinical vigilance.

📌 3 Key Takeaways

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Objective & Hypothesis:Aim: Procedural Sedation and Analgesia (PSA) is crucial in pediatric emergency care to minimize discomfort, enhance procedural success, and improve satisfaction for both healthcare providers and caregivers.
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Key Findings & Data:Material and Methods: This prospective observational study analyzed collected data from pediatric patients (3 months–18 years) who underwent ketamine-based PSA in the ED between June 21 and September 17, 2021.
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Conclusion & Impact:Ketamine demonstrates a favorable safety profile with no serious adverse events, confirming that single-agent PSA is a reliable practice in the pediatric ED when managed with appropriate clinical vigilance.
🔬Design:Araştırma Makalesi
📍Scope:2021 Verileri
⚙️Variables:Ketamin · ETCO₂ · sedasyon

Abstract

Aim: Procedural Sedation and Analgesia (PSA) is crucial in pediatric emergency care to minimize discomfort, enhance procedural success, and improve satisfaction for both healthcare providers and caregivers. This study aims to evaluate the characteristics of pediatric patients who received ketamine for PSA in the emergency department (ED) and to assess associated adverse events. Material and Methods: This prospective observational study analyzed collected data from pediatric patients (3 months–18 years) who underwent ketamine-based PSA in the ED between June 21 and September 17, 2021. Data included demographics, nutritional status, ketamine dosing, oxygen support needs, and vital signs (e.g., blood pressure, oxygen saturation, respiratory rate, heart rate, end-tidal CO₂). Sedation levels (Ramsey Scale) and adverse events such as hypoxemia, apnea, hypercarbia, hiccups, hypersalivation, muscle twitching, vomiting, and transient apnea were recorded pre-, intra-, and post-procedure. Results: Sixty pediatric patients (mean age: 3.5 ± 1 years; 46 males, 76.7%) were included. Most (98.3%) were ASA I, with one (1.7%) classified as ASA II. No significant differences were noted in vital signs except for increased systolic and diastolic blood pressure. Adverse events included agitation (16.7%), hiccups (11.7%), muscle twitching (10%), hypersalivation (8.3%), vomiting (3.3%), clonus (1.7%), transient apnea (1.7%), and nystagmus (1.7%). No severe complications occurred. Conclusion: Although adverse events may occur during pediatric PSA with ketamine, serious events are rare. Ketamine demonstrates a favorable safety profile with no serious adverse events, confirming that single-agent PSA is a reliable practice in the pediatric ED when managed with appropriate clinical vigilance.

Özet

Amaç: Pediatrik acil bakımda girişimsel sedasyon ve analjezi (GSA), hastanın rahatsızlığını azaltmak, girişim başarısını artırmak ve hem sağlık çalışanları hem de bakım verenler açısından memnuniyeti yükseltmek açısından kritik öneme sahiptir. Bu çalışma, acil serviste (AS) ketamin ile GSA uygulanan pediatrik hastaların özelliklerini değerlendirmeyi ve ilişkili advers olayları incelemeyi amaçlamaktadır. Gereç ve Yöntem: Bu prospektif gözlemsel çalışma, 21 Haziran–17 Eylül 2021 tarihleri arasında AS’de ketamin temelli GSA uygulanan 3 ay–18 yaş arası pediatrik hastalardan prospektif olarak toplanan verilerin analizine dayanmaktadır. Demografik özellikler, beslenme durumu, ketamin dozları, oksijen desteği gereksinimi ve kan basıncı, oksijen satürasyonu, solunum hızı, kalp hızı ve end-tidal CO₂ gibi vital bulgular kaydedildi. Sedasyon düzeyleri (Ramsey Sedasyon Skalası) ile hipoksemi, apne, hiperkapni, hıçkırık, hipersalivasyon, kas seğirmesi, kusma ve geçici apne gibi advers olaylar girişim öncesi, sırası ve sonrasında değerlendirildi. Bulgular: Toplam 60 hasta çalışmaya dahil edildi (ortalama yaş: 3,5 ± 1 yıl; 46 erkek, %76,7). Hastaların çoğu (%98,3) ASA I, yalnızca biri (%1,7) ASA II olarak sınıflandırıldı. Vital bulgularda sistolik ve diyastolik kan basıncı artışı dışında anlamlı bir değişiklik gözlenmedi. Advers olaylar arasında ajitasyon (%16,7), hıçkırık (%11,7), kas seğirmesi (%10), hipersalivasyon (%8,3), kusma (%3,3), klonus (%1,7), geçici apne (%1,7) ve nistagmus (%1,7) yer aldı. Ciddi komplikasyon saptanmadı. Sonuç: Ketamin ile pediatrik GSA sırasında advers olaylar görülebilse de ciddi komplikasyonlar nadirdir. Ketamin, ciddi yan etki olmaksızın olumlu bir güvenlik profili sergilemekte olup, uygun klinik gözetimle yönetildiğinde tek ajanlı PSA'nın pediatrik acil serviste güvenilir bir uygulama olduğunu doğrulamaktadır.

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Cite This Article

Balci, M., İbze, S., Göksu, E. (2026). Pediatric Procedural Sedation and Analgesia with Ketamine and Adverse Events in the Emergency Department. Anatolian Journal of Emergency Medicine, Cilt: 9 Sayı: 2, 72–76. https://doi.org/10.54996/anatolianjem.1840458

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