The effectiveness and clinical outcomes of low-dose ketamine on the inflammatory stress response in digestive laparotomy surgery: A case series

Surgery and anesthesia may cause inflammatory response. Ketamine, through its various anti-inflammatory activities, is expected to control this inflammatory response. Six patients who underwent digestive laparotomy surgery were randomly assigned to receive ketamine 0.3 mg/kgBW or intravenous NaCl 0.9%. Patients' blood was collected twice; pain score and total morphine consumption were also recorded. Pain score was assessed using the visual analog score and total morphine requirement was measured using patient-controlled analgesia. In this case series, we found that inflammation markers such as neutrophils count and C-reactive protein in the ketamine group were lower than the normal saline group. We also found that pain score and total morphine requirements were lower in the ketamine group compared to the normal saline group. In conclusion, the administration of a low dose of ketamine at the end of surgery showed decrease in inflammation markers, pain scores, and the need for postoperative opioid