Introduction to Ketamine: A Dissociative Anesthetic

Ketamine, developed as an anesthetic and less potent form of phencyclidine (PCP) by Drs. Edward Domino and Calvin Stevens, was termed a "dissociative anesthetic" because subjects became disconnected from their environment and sensory inputs reaching cortical areas were not always perceived in association areas. Approved by the US Food and Drug Administration as an anesthetic in 1970, it gained popularity as a field anesthetic due to its hemodynamic safety.

Abstract

Ketamine was developed as an anesthetic and less potent form of phencyclidine (PCP) by Drs. Edward Domino and Calvin Stevens. The drug was termed a "dissociative anesthetic" in part because subjects became disconnected from their environment and in part because sensory inputs can reach cortical areas but are not always perceived in association areas. It was approved by the US Food and Drug Administration as an anesthetic in 1970 and quickly gained popularity as a field anesthetic due to its hemodynamic safety.