Intravenous subdissociative-dose ketamine versus morphine for acute geriatric pain in the Emergency Department: A randomized controlled trial

Study objective

We compare the analgesic efficacy and safety of subdissociative intravenous-dose ketamine (SDK) versus morphine in geriatric Emergency Department (ED) patients.

Methods

This was a prospective, randomized, double-blind trial evaluating ED patients aged 65 and older experiencing moderate to severe acute abdominal, flank, musculoskeletal, or malignant pain. Patients were randomized to receive SDK at 0.3?mg/kg or morphine at 0.1?mg/kg by short intravenous infusion over 15?min. Evaluations occurred at 15, 30, 60, 90, and 120?min. Primary outcome was reduction in pain at 30?min. Secondary outcomes included overall rates of adverse effects and incidence of rescue analgesia.

Results

Thirty patients per group were enrolled in the study. The primary change in mean pain scores was not significantly different in the ketamine and morphine groups: 9.0 versus 8.4 at baseline (mean difference 0.6; 95% CI ?0.30 to 1.43) and 4.2 versus 4.4 at 30?min (mean difference ?0.2; 95% CI ?1.93 to1.46). Patients in the SDK group reported higher rates of psychoperceptual adverse effects at 15, 30, and 60?min post drug administration. Two patients in the ketamine group and one in the morphine group experienced brief desaturation episodes. There were no statistically significant differences with respect to changes in vital signs and need for rescue medication.

Conclusion

SDK administered at 0.3?mg/kg over 15?min provides analgesic efficacy comparable to morphine for short-term treatment of acute pain in the geriatric ED patients but results in higher rates of psychoperceptual adverse effects.ClinicalTrials.gov Registration #: NCT02673372.