Postoperative ketamine infusion in comparison with tramadol infusion for postoperative pain relief

Abstract

Background:Systemic narcotics commonly used for postoperative analgesia are associated with many side effects.
Many studies regarding the best postoperative analgesic regimen with minimum side effects have been done over the last 20 years.In this study we compare between the postoperative intravenous infusion of tramadol with the postoperative intravenous infusion of ketamine .
Method : This stidy was carried out on 120 parturients prepared for an elective caeserian section under general anaesthesia . All patients subjects according to American Society Of Anaesthesiologist ( ASA) classification were grade 1 & 2 between 20 – 40 of age. Subject were allocated into two groups ( 60 patients in each group ):
Group A ( Ketamine group ) ( n = 60 ) patients received a bolus dose of ketamine( 0.3 mg/kg) followed by an intravenous infusion at 0.1 mg • kg−1 • h−1) postoperatively .
Group B (Control group) ( n = 60 ) patients received a bolus dose of tramadol ( 2 mg/kg ) followed by an intravenous infusion (0.2 mg • kg−1 • h−1) postoperatively
Diclofenac suppositories were given to both groups postoperatively.
Results: The ketamine group had less pain at rest and with movement , required less diclofenac suppositories throughout the 24 h study period. Ketamine, improved subjective analgesic efficacy . Hallucinations were more common in ketamine patients, but other side effects were similar .
Conclusion: Small doses of postoperative intravenous infusion of ketamine is a better choice for postoperative analgesia than an intravenous infusion of tramadol.