The effects of a multiday (10-14 days) subanesthetic dose IV ketamine infusion in the treatment of refractory chronic pain

Aim: Ketamine is an anesthetic agent that at lower doses can be a potent analgesic. There has been an interest in the use of low dose ketamine in treatment of chronic pain syndromes. Patients & methods: We report the results of a retrospective observational study for patients diagnosed with a chronic noncancer pain syndrome receiving a 2-week continuous subanesthetic IV ketamine infusion. Results & conclusion: We conclude that a 10-14 days of subanesthetic ketamine infusion in chronic patients results in clinically significant lowering of patients' numerical pain score. Further studies looking at subanesthetic ketamine infusion in a prospective trial of multi-day IV ketamine infusion in chronic refractory chronic neuropathic pain are needed to further assess the efficacy of ketamine. Lay abstract: Ketamine is a pharmacological agent that was developed in the 1960s. There has been an increase in interest in the use of ketamine at low doses in the treatment of chronic pain syndromes. In this study, we report the results of a study that investigated patients diagnosed with a chronic noncancer pain syndrome that received a 2-week continuous ketamine infusion. We hypothesized that patients receiving IV ketamine infusion will experience acute and chronic lowering of pain intensity on the numerical rating pain level scale and reduce patient's opioid requirements. We concluded that a 10-14 day of subanesthetic ketamine infusion in chronic patients results in clinically significant lowering of patients' numerical pain score during the ketamine infusion.Y