Sublingual/buccal ketamine premedication in children

Abstract

To evaluate the use of sublingual/buccal ketamine for premedication in children, 10 patients were given ketamine 5 mg/kg absorbed into a small cube sugar (ketamine group) and 10 patients were given no premedication (control group). Degree of sedation, acceptance of mask induction, time of induction, mean arterial pressure (MAP) and heart rate (HR) were compared between the two groups. It was found that children in ketamine group were well sedated and well tolerated mask induction. In this group, induction time was very short; MAP and HR increases due to ketamine were within acceptable limits. It was concluded that, sublingual/buccal ketamine premedication is an appropriate method providing painless application, good sedation, short induction time and cardiovascular stability.