The Effects of Ketamine on Respiratory Stimulation and Transpulmonary Pressures
Study Details
Study Description
Brief Summary
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.
| Condition or Disease | Intervention/Treatment | Phase |
|---|---|---|
|
N/A |
Detailed Description
Maintaining the patency of the upper airway in sedated and anesthetized patients is challenging especially when patients are ready to be weaned from mechanical ventilation. Spontaneous breathing trial (SBT) is used to expedite the weaning process, which oftentimes requires the reduction and/or discontinuation of sedatives and analgesics. In some surgical patients, reducing these medications can lead to pain associated agitation and inability to conduct SBTs, which may prolong the need for mechanical ventilation. Using medications with narcotic sparing effects and that do not cause respiratory depression may allow for the reduction or discontinuation of agents that depress respiratory drive and subsequently facilitate extubation.
Ketamine has been used for many years in critically ill patients for sedation and analgesia. This noncompetitive antagonist of N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) is used as an anesthetic and analgesic and has been shown to reduce opioid consumption and to prevent the development of opioid tolerance. Unlike other anesthetics, ketamine activates respiratory effort and promotes bronchodilation. At subanesthetic plasma concentration, ketamine reduces both opioid and propofol requirements.
The goal of this pharmaco-physiological interaction trial is to evaluate the effects of ketamine at a subanesthetic dose on breathing and electroencephalography. The investigators hypothesize that ketamine drip at a subanesthetic infusion rate (low dose ketamine 5 - 10 mcg/kg/min) is associated with respiratory stimulating effects and does not markedly increase transpulmonary pressure in mechanically ventilated patients.
The primary outcome is respiratory function, assessed through peak inspiratory flow, tidal volume,respiratory rate, duty cycle, and minute ventilation measured 15 minutes prior to initiation of ketamine infusion (to serve as baseline), at 60 minutes of ketamine infusion at 5mcg/kg/min, at another 60 minutes of infusion at 10mcg/kg/min, at which point the infusion is stopped for 3 hours for a final set of measurements.
Study Design
Arms and Interventions
| Arm | Intervention/Treatment |
|---|---|
| Experimental: Cohort Adult mechanically ventilated patients who are deemed eligible for a spontaneous breathing trial and are candidates to receive subanesthetic ketamine by the primary critical care team. |
Drug: Subanesthetic ketamine
Ketamine drip at a subanesthetic infusion rate (low dose ketamine 5 - 10 mcg/kg/min)
|
Outcome Measures
Primary Outcome Measures
- Change in peak inspiratory flow [Measured 15 minutes prior to initiation of ketamine infusion, at 60 minutes of ketamine infusion at 5mcg/kg/min, at another 60 minutes of infusion at 10mcg/kg/min, and at 2 hours after stopping the infusion]
Measured using a pneumotach (Hans Rudolph Inc., Shawnee, KS) connected to the ventilation tubing of the patient during the spontaneous breathing trials.
- Change in tidal volume [Measured 15 minutes prior to initiation of ketamine infusion, at 60 minutes of ketamine infusion at 5mcg/kg/min, at another 60 minutes of infusion at 10mcg/kg/min, and at 2 hours after stopping the infusion]
Measured using a pneumotach (Hans Rudolph Inc., Shawnee, KS) connected to the ventilation tubing of the patient during the spontaneous breathing trials.
- Change in duty cycle [Measured 15 minutes prior to initiation of ketamine infusion, at 60 minutes of ketamine infusion at 5mcg/kg/min, at another 60 minutes of infusion at 10mcg/kg/min, and at 2 hours after stopping the infusion]
Measured using a pneumotach (Hans Rudolph Inc., Shawnee, KS) connected to the ventilation tubing of the patient during the spontaneous breathing trials.
- Change in respiratory rate [Measured 15 minutes prior to initiation of ketamine infusion, at 60 minutes of ketamine infusion at 5mcg/kg/min, at another 60 minutes of infusion at 10mcg/kg/min, and at 2 hours after stopping the infusion]
Measured using a pneumotach (Hans Rudolph Inc., Shawnee, KS) connected to the ventilation tubing of the patient during the spontaneous breathing trials.
- Change in minute ventilation [Measured 15 minutes prior to initiation of ketamine infusion, at 60 minutes of ketamine infusion at 5mcg/kg/min, at another 60 minutes of infusion at 10mcg/kg/min, and at 2 hours after stopping the infusion]
Measured using a pneumotach (Hans Rudolph Inc., Shawnee, KS) connected to the ventilation tubing of the patient during the spontaneous breathing trials.
Secondary Outcome Measures
- Transpulmonary pressure [Continuously throughout the study until stopping the ketamine infusion.]
Standard nutritional nasogastric tube with an integrated esophageal balloon will be inserted if not already in place by a trained physician or respiratory therapist prior to initiation of ketamine drip and will be used for measurement of transpulmonary pressure. for the study period (approximately 5 hours)
- Changes in power spectrum densities [Continuously throughout the ketamine infusion until 3 hours after stopping the ketamine infusion.]
Electroencephalography (EEG)-based power spectrum densities will be measured using the Sedline brain function monitor (Masimo Corporation, Irvine, CA)
- Oxygen blood saturation [Continuously throughout the ketamine infusion until 3 hours after stopping the ketamine infusion.]
Pulse oxymetry
- Changes in volumetric capnography [Periods of at least five minutes during steady state breathing before and after administration of ketamine.]
Measures through volumetric capnography: NICO© device from Respironics (Hartford, CT).
- Total narcotic consumption [3 hours after stopping the ketamine infusion]
Obtained from the medical record and flow sheets.
- Number of days mechanically ventilated [3 hours after stopping the ketamine infusion]
Difference in days between intubation and extubation. Obtained from the medical record and flow sheets.
- Richmond Agitation Sedation Scale (RASS) [3 hours after stopping the ketamine infusion]
Obtained from the medical record and flow sheets.
- Critical care pain observation tool (CPOT) [3 hours after stopping the ketamine infusion]
Obtained from the medical record and flow sheets.
- Confusion Assessment Measurement for the ICU (CAM-ICU) [3 hours after stopping the ketamine infusion]
Obtained from the medical record and flow sheets.
Eligibility Criteria
Criteria
Inclusion Criteria:
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Age ≥ 18 years admitted to ICU requiring mechanical ventilation
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Suitable for spontaneous breathing trial
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Candidate to received low dose ketamine by the primary critical care team
Exclusion Criteria:
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Esophageal injury
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Allergic to ketamine
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Known neurodegenerative disorders
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Major neurologic disorders (elevated ICP)
Contacts and Locations
Locations
| Site | City | State | Country | Postal Code | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Massachusetts General Hospital | Boston | Massachusetts | United States | 02114 |
| 2 | Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center | Boston | Massachusetts | United States | 02215 |
Sponsors and Collaborators
- Massachusetts General Hospital
- Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center
Investigators
- Principal Investigator: Lorenzo Berra, MD, Massachusetts General Hospital
- Study Director: Matthias Eikermann, MD, PhD, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center
Study Documents (Full-Text)
None provided.More Information
Publications
- Eikermann M, Grosse-Sundrup M, Zaremba S, Henry ME, Bittner EA, Hoffmann U, Chamberlin NL. Ketamine activates breathing and abolishes the coupling between loss of consciousness and upper airway dilator muscle dysfunction. Anesthesiology. 2012 Jan;116(1):35-46. doi: 10.1097/ALN.0b013e31823d010a.
- Esteban A, Frutos F, Tobin MJ, Alía I, Solsona JF, Valverdú I, Fernández R, de la Cal MA, Benito S, Tomás R, et al. A comparison of four methods of weaning patients from mechanical ventilation. Spanish Lung Failure Collaborative Group. N Engl J Med. 1995 Feb 9;332(6):345-50.
- Hirota K, Hashimoto Y, Sakai T, Sato T, Ishihara H, Matsuki A. In vivo spasmolytic effect of ketamine and adrenaline on histamine-induced airway constriction. Direct visualization method with a superfine fibreoptic bronchoscope. Acta Anaesthesiol Scand. 1998 Feb;42(2):184-8.
- Kissin I, Bright CA, Bradley EL Jr. The effect of ketamine on opioid-induced acute tolerance: can it explain reduction of opioid consumption with ketamine-opioid analgesic combinations? Anesth Analg. 2000 Dec;91(6):1483-8.
- Menigaux C, Fletcher D, Dupont X, Guignard B, Guirimand F, Chauvin M. The benefits of intraoperative small-dose ketamine on postoperative pain after anterior cruciate ligament repair. Anesth Analg. 2000 Jan;90(1):129-35.
- Morel DR, Forster A, Gemperle M. Noninvasive evaluation of breathing pattern and thoraco-abdominal motion following the infusion of ketamine or droperidol in humans. Anesthesiology. 1986 Oct;65(4):392-8.
- 2013P001690