A Promising Route for Established Indications: A Systematic Review of Nebulized Ketamine in Pain.
Neveen A Kohaf, Tabia Imtiyaz Khan, Hamada Hamdy Elbana, Ro'A Azzam Hassouna, Mohamed Maher Abd Elfattah, Prashant Nasa, Sahar Shekoohi, Alan David Kaye, Islam Mohammad Shehata
Current Pain and Headache Reports April 30, 2025 DOI: 10.1007/s11916-025-01394-z (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Systematic review Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Intervention | nebulized ketamine |
| Topics | Esketamine Ketamine |
| Keywords | Icu Nebulized ketamine Trauma Pain management Emergency medicine Drug delivery systems Anesthesiology Innovative treatments |
| Citations | 1 |
| Key findings | Nebulized ketamine appears to be a safe and efficacious treatment for acute pain, but further investigations are needed to determine its pharmacokinetics, optimal dosing, and efficacy across different populations. |
Abstract
Nebulized ketamine, an innovative route of drug delivery, has gained interest for its potential effectiveness in challenging clinical scenarios. The objective of this systematic review is to provide insights into the safety and effectiveness of nebulized ketamine in pain management. A systematic search was performed on online databases including WOS, Cochrane, Scopus, and PubMed, using a specific search strategy. Our review focused on primary studies about the utilization of nebulized ketamine in various contexts regarding pain management. Additionally, we incorporated relevant secondary research, such as reviews presenting diverse perspectives. Nebulized ketamine in pain management included nine studies. The advantages of nebulized ketamine over other forms of administration include its rapid absorption and effective delivery. The smaller volume required for nebulization can result in fewer side effects and enhanced patient compliance thereby facilitating efficient drug delivery while minimizing the systematic impact. Emerging evidence supports the administration of nebulized ketamine as a safe and efficacious treatment for acute pain. However, further investigations are needed for a better understanding of its pharmacokinetics, optimal dosing and efficacy across different populations.