Evaluation of propofol-ketamine anesthesia for children undergoing cardiac catheterization procedures.

The aim of this study was to assess the safety and efficacy of the continuous intravenous administration of a combination of propofol and ketamine for children undergoing cardiac catheterization procedures (CCP). Thirty-two children scheduled for CCP in a university teaching hospital were included in this prospective randomized study. Patients in group 1 (n = 15) were given a combination of propofol (25 microg/kg per minute) and ketamine (25 microg/kg per minute), whereas patients in group 2 (n = 17) received a combination of propofol (25 microg/kg per minute) and ketamine (12.5 microg/kg per minute) for the maintenance of anesthesia. There were no statistically significant differences with age, weight, duration of the procedure, and the number of diagnostic and interventional procedures between the two groups. There was no hemodynamic instability, airway compromise, excessive salivation, or arterial desaturation in either of the two groups. There was more incidence of movements in patients who received less dose of ketamine; however, it did not reach to statistically significant level. The total dose of ketamine used in group 1 was 309.25 +/- 90.97 microg/min, whereas in group 2, it was 148.06 +/- 34.05 microg/min. The time to awakening was significantly less in group 2 (P < 0.05). We conclude that a combination of propofol (25 microg/kg per minute) and two different doses of ketamine (25 and 12.5 microg/kg per minute, respectively) are safe and efficacious for CCP in children. Although the time to awaken was more in patients receiving 25 microg/kg per minute of ketamine compared to those receiving 12.5 microg/kg per minute of ketamine, it was well within acceptable limits.