Prolonged apnea with intramuscular ketamine: a case report

Abstract

We report a rare case of prolonged apnea following administration of ketamine. A healthy 11-month-old female child was administered intramuscular ketamine as a sole anesthetic agent for a short surgical procedure. Child developed respiratory depression and prolonged apnea requiring intubation and ventilation. She recovered completely after 90 min. This case report illustrates the potential hazard of ketamine, emphasizes the importance of being able to provide emergency airway management and monitored anesthesia care.