Adjuvant Low-dose Ketamine in Pediatric Sickle Cell Vaso-occlusive Crisis

Summary

Acute vaso-occlusive episodes (VOEs) in sickle cell disease (SCD) are primarily managed with opioids. Tolerance and hyperalgesia to opioids develops due to N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA)-receptor mediated activation of the nociceptive system, and as a receptor antagonist, ketamine mitigates this. Intravenous (IV) ketamine has demonstrated efficacy in reducing post-operative, chronic, and cancer-related pain in pediatrics, as well as in reducing time to pain control in the emergency department (ED) in adults. Limited studies suggest efficacy in adult opioid-refractory SCD patients. This study is investigating the safety and tolerability of adjuvant low-dose IV ketamine bolus for pediatric SCD VOE in the ED, as well as its efficacy in improving pain control and reducing hospitalization.

Timeline

Start

2016-06

Primary completion

2018-04

Completion

2018-04

Publications

• Background Neri CM, Pestieau SR, Darbari DS. Low-dose ketamine as a potential adjuvant therapy for painful vaso-occlusive crises in sickle cell disease. Paediatr Anaesth. 2013 Aug;23(8):684-9. doi: 10.1111/pan.12172. Epub 2013 Apr 9.
• Background Tawfic QA, Faris AS, Eipe N. Sickle cell pain management: are we missing the role of pronociception and neuropathic pain? Paediatr Anaesth. 2013 Nov;23(11):1104-5. doi: 10.1111/pan.12269. No abstract available.
• Background Jennings CA, Bobb BT, Noreika DM, Coyne PJ. Oral ketamine for sickle cell crisis pain refractory to opioids. J Pain Palliat Care Pharmacother. 2013 Jun;27(2):150-4. doi: 10.3109/15360288.2013.788599. Epub 2013 May 21.
• Background Zempsky WT, Loiselle KA, Corsi JM, Hagstrom JN. Use of low-dose ketamine infusion for pediatric patients with sickle cell disease-related pain: a case series. Clin J Pain. 2010 Feb;26(2):163-7. doi: 10.1097/AJP.0b013e3181b511ab.
• Background Riha H, Aaronson P, Schmidt A. Evaluation of analgesic effects of ketamine through sub-dissociative dosing in the ED. Am J Emerg Med. 2015 Jun;33(6):847-9. doi: 10.1016/j.ajem.2015.03.045. Epub 2015 Mar 25. No abstract available.
• Background Beaudoin FL, Lin C, Guan W, Merchant RC. Low-dose ketamine improves pain relief in patients receiving intravenous opioids for acute pain in the emergency department: results of a randomized, double-blind, clinical trial. Acad Emerg Med. 2014 Nov;21(11):1193-202. doi: 10.1111/acem.12510.
• Background Drake AB, Milne WK, Carpenter CR. Hot Off the Press: Subdissociative-dose Ketamine for Acute Pain in the Emergency Department. Acad Emerg Med. 2015 Jul;22(7):887-9. doi: 10.1111/acem.12705. Epub 2015 Jun 30. No abstract available.
• Background Miller JP, Schauer SG, Ganem VJ, Bebarta VS. Low-dose ketamine vs morphine for acute pain in the ED: a randomized controlled trial. Am J Emerg Med. 2015 Mar;33(3):402-8. doi: 10.1016/j.ajem.2014.12.058. Epub 2015 Jan 7.
• Background Uprety D, Baber A, Foy M. Ketamine infusion for sickle cell pain crisis refractory to opioids: a case report and review of literature. Ann Hematol. 2014 May;93(5):769-71. doi: 10.1007/s00277-013-1954-3. Epub 2013 Nov 15.
• Background Tawfic QA, Faris AS, Kausalya R. The role of a low-dose ketamine-midazolam regimen in the management of severe painful crisis in patients with sickle cell disease. J Pain Symptom Manage. 2014 Feb;47(2):334-40. doi: 10.1016/j.jpainsymman.2013.03.012. Epub 2013 Jul 12.
• Background Ahern TL, Herring AA, Anderson ES, Madia VA, Fahimi J, Frazee BW. The first 500: initial experience with widespread use of low-dose ketamine for acute pain management in the ED. Am J Emerg Med. 2015 Feb;33(2):197-201. doi: 10.1016/j.ajem.2014.11.010. Epub 2014 Nov 15.

Drugs

Indications