Ketamine in Acute Pain Management: Comprehensive Meta-Analysis Findings (Shi et al., 2024)

Introduction:
 Shi et al.’s 2024 meta-analysis, published in the Journal of the College of Physicians and Surgeons Pakistan, evaluates the efficacy and safety of ketamine in managing acute pain. By synthesizing data from multiple studies, it highlights ketamine’s role as an adjunct or alternative to traditional analgesics, offering potential benefits in acute care scenarios.

Key Points for Providers:

  1. Mechanism of Action:

    • Ketamine’s NMDA receptor antagonism disrupts central sensitization and hyperalgesia, addressing acute pain effectively.
    • Its multimodal analgesic properties make it valuable in reducing opioid requirements and opioid-induced hyperalgesia.
  2. Efficacy in Acute Pain:

    • The meta-analysis demonstrates ketamine’s effectiveness across diverse acute pain settings, including post-operative care, trauma, and flare-ups of chronic conditions.
    • Low-dose ketamine has been shown to reduce pain scores significantly, even in opioid-tolerant patients.
  3. Safety Profile:

    • Ketamine’s safety was affirmed in controlled environments, with most adverse effects (e.g., dissociation, dizziness) being transient and mild.
    • The review emphasizes the importance of titration and monitoring to minimize risks, especially in non-anesthesiologist-administered contexts.
  4. Clinical Implications:

    • Ketamine can serve as a valuable adjunct to opioid regimens, potentially mitigating opioid use and associated risks.
    • Its role in multimodal analgesia protocols is expanding, particularly in emergency, perioperative, and palliative care settings.

The VitalPoint for Providers:
 This meta-analysis confirms ketamine’s utility as a robust tool for acute pain management, particularly in opioid-sparing strategies. Providers should consider integrating ketamine into practice for acute pain scenarios, balancing its efficacy with potential side effects through proper monitoring.

Further Reading:

  • Shi X, Zhou J, Jiang H, Xie K. Ketamine in the Management of Acute Pain: A Comprehensive Meta-Analysis. J Coll Physicians Surg Pak. 2024 Jan;34(1):78-85. doi: 10.29271/jcpsp.2024.01.78. PMID: 38185966.
  • https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/38185966/

These tailored summaries address patient concerns and provide healthcare professionals with actionable insights into ketamine’s role in acute pain management.

VitalPoint Technologies, Inc.

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