Low-dose ketamine adjuvant treatment for refractory pain in children, adolescents and young adults with cancer: a pilot study.

Objectives: Ketamine, an -methyl-D-aspartate receptor antagonist, is effective at relieving adult cancer pain, although there have been very few reports to date regarding its use in children and in adolescents and young adults (AYA). This study assessed the efficacy, safety and opioid-sparing effects of low doses of ketamine added to opioid analgesics to alleviate persistent cancer pain.

Methods: This prospective, multicentre, observational trial collected data regarding demographics, pain characteristics, pain score assessment within the first 48 hours of ketamine administration, tolerance and satisfaction from 38 patients aged 2-24 years prescribed with ketamine as an adjuvant antalgic for refractory cancer pain in 10 French paediatric oncology centres.