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Ketamine and the obstetric patient


Y.H. Mahomedy
J.W. Downing
A.J. Coleman
M.C. Mahomedy

Abstract

Ketamine anaesthesia was administered to 135 mothers undergoing Caesarean section. The incidence of awareness, dream recall, and psychic disturbance in this group was compared with that occurring in 126 subjects anaesthetised with thiopentone and nitrous oxide. Factual recall was rare in both groups. Dreaming, although more frequent in the ketamine series, was usually pleasant in nature. Psychic phenomena occurred after ketamine anaesthesia, but were infrequent if ketamine dosage was limited, or anaesthesia supplemented with diazepam. It is concluded that ketamine may be used to advantage in obstetric anaesthesia, without significant dreaming or psychic disturbances. 

S. Afr. Med. J., 48, 734 (1974).

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eISSN: 2078-5135
print ISSN: 0256-9574