Dose-dependent side effects of prehospital analgesia with ketamine for winter sports injuries - an observational study.

Background
Ketamine is one of the most used drugs in trauma patients after skiing accidents. However, the environmental conditions for these patients are often rough, with numerous unpleasant sensory impressions (e.g. noise from the helicopter, cold, wind, etc.), raising concerns about the adverse psychological side effects of ketamine. Moreover, it has not yet been established whether these side effects are dose-dependent, and the supplementary administration of benzodiazepines remains controversial. We analysed the subjective perception of side effects after administration of ketamine during helicopter emergency medical service missions involving trauma patients after ski accidents.
Methods
In this retrospective observational study, data was collected from emergency services protocols and questionnaires filled out by patients. The primary outcome was defined as the patients' subjective perceptions of ketamine-associated side effects. The subjective intensity of twelve common classes of side effects was recorded on a five-point Likert scale. In addition, we conducted a linear regression analysis, with side effect intensity as the outcome and gender, age, type of injury, use of midazolam and fentanyl, ketamine dosage and relative pain reduction as covariates.
Results
A total of 69 patients were identified who were treated with ketamine during the winter months of 2023/2024, after suffering trauma while doing alpine winter sports. Of these, 49 patients (71%) could be included. The side effects reported were mostly mild, with two-thirds of the patients describing them as "no [side effects]" or "mild". Only 6% described them as "barely tolerable" or "unbearable". No statistically significant association could be demonstrated between the ketamine dose and the total reported side effect score. The regression model identified the additional administration of midazolam as a significant covariate for fewer side effects. With regard to prehospital care, 85% of the patients stated that they had always felt safe, while two-thirds were satisfied with the prehospital pain therapy.
Conclusion
Ketamine seems to be a suitable option for pain therapy in the case of injuries during alpine winter sport activities. Side effects reported by patients in this study were rare, not dose-dependent and described by most patients as subjectively well tolerable. The supplementary administration of midazolam could potentially further reduce these side effects.