Ketamine in Neurocritical Care: New Potentials and Perspectives.
Rudin Domi, Alma Cani, Asead Abdyli, Gentian Huti, Stela Dodaj, Filadelfo Coniglione, Mirel Grada, Vojsava Leka, Majlinda Naco, Mustafa Bajraktari
Cureus June 1, 2025 DOI: 10.7759/cureus.85456 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Review Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Intervention | Ketamine |
| Topics | Ketamine Esketamine |
| Keywords | Anticonvulsant Neurocritical care Sedation • neuroprotection Ketamine therapy Brain injury treatment Medical breakthroughs |
| Citations | 3 |
| Key findings | Ketamine provides neuroprotection and hemodynamic stability in neurocritical care, with earlier concerns about increased intracranial pressure disproven. |
Abstract
Ketamine is an intravenous hypnotic anesthetic that acts primarily by inhibiting N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptors, leading to a range of effects, including hypnosis, analgesia, anticonvulsant activity, anti-inflammatory action, and neuroprotection. Initially, there were concerns that ketamine might elevate intracranial pressure. However, these worries have since been dispelled, leading to a renewed consideration of its role in neurocritical care. This evolving understanding has facilitated its increasing use in neurosurgical patients, both in the operating room and intensive care units, where it provides hemodynamic stability and neuroprotective benefits. Additionally, ketamine has shown promise in managing specific neurological conditions such as stroke and refractory seizures, further broadening its clinical applications. This review aims to provide a comprehensive clinical summary of ketamine's usefulness in these settings.
Comparable studies
Other narrative reviews on ketamine, most cited first.
| Study | Year | Design | Participants |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ketamine and Ketamine Metabolite Pharmacology: Insights into Therapeutic Mechanisms | 2018 | Review | |
| Mechanisms of Ketamine Action as an Antidepressant | 2018 | Review | |
| Synthesizing the Evidence for Ketamine and Esketamine in Treatment-Resistant Depression: An International Expert Opinion on the Available Evidence and Implementation Adults with treatment-resistant depression | 2021 | Review | |
| Ketamine Pharmacology: An Update (Pharmacodynamics and Molecular Aspects, Recent Findings) | 2013 | Review | |
| A Consensus Statement on the Use of Ketamine in the Treatment of Mood Disorders | 2017 | Review and consensus statement |