THE ROLE OF KETAMINE AS PREMEDICATION BEFORE GENERAL ANESTHESIA: A REVIEW OF CURRENT EVIDENCE
Abstract
Ketamine is a widely used anesthetic agent with unique properties, including dissociative anesthesia, analgesia, and amnesia. Its use as premedication before general anesthesia has gained attention due to its potential benefits, such as improving perioperative analgesia, reducing anesthetic requirements, and enhancing hemodynamic stability. This review explores the pharmacology, clinical indications, and efficacy of ketamine as premedication, with a focus on its advantages, limitations, and emerging evidence in contemporary anesthesia practice.
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