Abstract

AN OVERVIEW OF DISSOCIATIVE ANESTHESIA

*J. Poorna Sindhu, P. Deepthi, A. Sravani, Dr. G. Ramesh, Satheesh S. Gottipati, Dr. P. Srinivasa Babu

ABSTRACT

Dissociative anaesthetic is other name for the drug Ketamine. Apart from anaesthetic, ketamine has wide range of applications. Ketamine is initially used as anaesthetic but later it is also used for analgesia and other pharmacological effects like dementia, Alzheimer’s disease, cognitive function, bronchodilation, depression. It works by blocking NMDA (N- methyl D- aspartate) receptors and also inhibits sodium and potassium channels, opioid receptors, serotonin reuptake. Ketamine is also used in obese people instead of opioids. As the use of ketamine is being increased, the usage of opioid is decreased. It is the only intravenously administered general anaesthetic which is having other pharmacological effects. Ketamine has also role in treating depression. Ketamine at sub-anaesthetic doses (0.25 mg/kg) can be safely used as adjunct analgesic to the women to treat postsurgical pain or post-operative pain for the first 24-48 hrs after the caesarean section.This article attempts to review about the dosage, route of administration, mechanism of action, pharmacokinetics, applications or uses, side effects, contraindications, interactions of the ketamine.

Keywords: Dissociative anaesthetic, Ketamine, N-Methyl D-Aspartate receptors.