Abstract
IntroductionKetamine has received attention recently as an agent for chronic pain. There are concerns, however, regarding the neurocognitive changes patients might experience after ketamine exposure.MethodsThis prospective, uncontrolled study describes the neurocognitive functioning of 11 children with chronic pain before and after 2 weeks of daily oral ketamine exposure. Neurocognitive assessment was performed at baseline, Week 2, and Week 14. We hypothesized that there would be declines in neurocognitive scores at either Week 2 or Week 14.ResultsNo decline in neurocognitive function was detected in the children investigated. Mean scores for tests measuring executive function and memory were improved at Weeks 2 and 14 compared to baseline.DiscussionThis study did not detect any decline in neurocognitive scores in a small number of children exposed to 2 weeks of oral ketamine therapy. Randomized, controlled studies of the neurocognitive effects of ketamine in children are recommended to further investigate these preliminary findings.
Highlights
Ketamine has received attention recently as an agent for chronic pain
This study did not detect any decline in neurocognitive scores in a small number of children exposed to 2 weeks of oral ketamine therapy
This article describes the neurocognitive changes in children with chronic pain who received 14 days of oral ketamine
Summary
Ketamine has received attention recently as an agent for chronic pain. There are concerns, regarding the neurocognitive changes patients might experience after ketamine exposure. Children who have had multiple surgeries requiring anesthesia with (and without) ketamine have been noted to have neurocognitive delays [2,3]. It has been impossible, to date, to determine if these neurocognitive delays are related to the ketamine, to the other anesthetic agents, or to a combination of both [3]. Ketamine is being investigated for control of chronic pain [4,5] and for treatment of severe depression [6]. These indications necessarily require prolonged ketamine exposure compared to that required for induction of anesthesia or for sedation through a procedure
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