Ketamine: When Delirium and Desperation Call for a Hero. (2nd October 2019)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Moazam, Cherine; Hirst, Jeremy; Mesarwi, Paula; Atayee, Rabia S.
• Is Part Of: Journal of pain & palliative care pharmacotherapy. Volume 33:Number 3/4(2019)
• Page Start: 120
• Page End: 124
• Publication Date: 2019-10-02
• Subjects: ketamine -- cancer-associated pain -- neuropathic pain -- delirium -- psychosocial suffering -- end-of-life symptom management; Pain -- Treatment -- Periodicals; Analgesia -- Periodicals; Palliative treatment -- Periodicals; Analgesics -- Therapeutic use -- Periodicals; Pain -- drug therapy -- Periodicals; Pain -- prevention & control -- Periodicals; Palliative Care -- Periodicals; Analgesics -- therapeutic use -- Periodicals; 616.994
• DOI: 10.1080/15360288.2019.1686099
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1536-0288

Abstract

Abstract: The use of ketamine in palliative care is becoming more common for challenging symptom management, namely cancer related pain and psychiatric conditions. However, there is much that remains unstudied and uncertain about ketamine's clinical utility. In this case we examine a young cancer patient who was struggling with challenging neuropathic pain and significant existential anguish in the setting of metastatic pancreatic cancer and delirium. Despite concerns regarding baseline delirium we successfully used ketamine to better manage neuropathic pain, decrease overall opioid need, without exacerbating the preexisting delirium. Our case highlights the benefits of ketamine for neuropathic pain control in the face of delirium.