Ketamine reduces the need for intubation in patients with acute severe mental illness and agitation requiring transport to definitive care: An observational study.

Objectives: The aim of this study was to review mental health patients transported by a dedicated statewide critical care retrieval team before and after the implementation of a ketamine sedation guideline.

Methods: This is a a retrospective cohort study of mental health patients with acute behavioural disturbance, transported between January 2010 and December 2015.

Results: A total of 78 patients were transported in the study period, 50 before and 28 after implementation of the ketamine guideline in June 2013.