The Effects of Ketamine on Respiratory Stimulation and Transpulmonary Pressures

Completed · Not applicable

Conditions studied: Mechanical Ventilation, Airway Patency, Respiratory Depression

In brief

Impairment of airway patency is a common cause of extubation failure and opioids and hypnotics can adversely affect airway patency. Ketamine, a noncompetitive antagonist of N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA), unlike other anesthetics activates respiratory effort and promotes bronchodilation. At subanesthetic plasma concentration, ketamine reduces both opioid and propofol requirements. The purpose of this pharmaco-physiological interaction trial is to evaluate the effects of ketamine on breathing and electroencephalography in mechanically ventilated patients.

Key facts

Study ID

NCT01969227

Run by

Massachusetts General Hospital

People needed

15

Starts

2014-01-01

Expected to finish

2022-12-01

Last updated by the study team

2026-05-19

Who can join

Age: 18 and older. Sex: any. Healthy volunteers: not accepted.

You may qualify if…

• Age ≥ 18 years admitted to ICU requiring mechanical ventilation
• Suitable for spontaneous breathing trial
• Candidate to received low dose ketamine by the primary critical care team

You may not qualify if…

• Esophageal injury
• Allergic to ketamine
• Known neurodegenerative disorders
• Major neurologic disorders (elevated ICP)

Where it is running

• Massachusetts General Hospital — Boston, Massachusetts, United States
• Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center — Boston, Massachusetts, United States

Full record on ClinicalTrials.gov

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