A new analysis of 18 studies looked at how well ketamine works for pain in adults with traumatic injuries treated before reaching the hospital. Researchers compared ketamine to opioids and to combinations of both drugs. They found that ketamine reduced pain just as much as opioids did. There was no significant difference in pain scores between the two treatments.
The analysis also checked for side effects. People who got ketamine had a small increase in heart rate, about 3 more beats per minute on average. But there were no differences in blood pressure or breathing rate compared to opioids. Side effects were uncommon and mostly mild, with emergence reactions being the most common.
It is important to note that this was a review of existing studies, not a new experiment. The certainty of the evidence was evaluated using GRADE, which helps rate how reliable the findings are. The results suggest that ketamine is a reasonable option for pain relief in the field, especially when opioids may not be ideal.
For patients, this means that ketamine can be an effective painkiller for serious injuries. However, the modest increase in heart rate should be considered, especially in people with heart conditions. Always follow your healthcare provider's advice about pain management.
