Korean J Anesthesiol.  2006 Nov;51(5):528-534. 10.4097/kjae.2006.51.5.528.

Influence of Anesthesia Induction with Ketamine on Baroreflex Control of Heart Rate

• Song JG
• Shin WJ
• Jun IG
• Kang SJ
• Choi BM
• Youn MO
• Kim TH
• Kim YK
• Huh IY
• Kang SS
• Hwang GS
• Han SM

• KMID: 2034386
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.4097/kjae.2006.51.5.528

Abstract

BACKGROUND: It is reported that ketamine increases central sympathetic activity as well as catecholamine reuptake inhibition. However, little has been known about baroreflex control of heart rate in ketamine anesthetized humans. Thus, the aim of this study was to analyze the effect of ketamine on spontaneous baroreflex sensitivity (BRS) during ketamine induction of anesthesia.
METHODS
Beat-by-beat arterial blood pressure and electrocardiogram at 5 min before and 10 min after ketamine administration (2 mg/kg) were recorded in twenty healthy living liver transplant donors. Spontaneous BRS was assessed by sequence method and transfer function analysis method.
RESULTS
Spontaneous BRS assessed by sequence method, BRSsequence, decreased from 13.7 +/- 6.3 to 7.8 +/- 4.5 ms/mmHg (P < 0.001). Spontaneous BRS assessed by low frequency transfer function method decreased from 10.9 +/- 5.4 to 7.0 +/- 4.1 ms/mmHg and by high frequency transfer function method from 14.8 +/- 9.2 to 8.7 +/- 8.8 ms/mmHg, respectively (P < 0.05).
CONCLUSIONS
The spontaneous BRS was decreased during ketamine induction of general anesthesia. These results suggest that anesthesia induction with ketamine impairs baroreflex control of heart rate, which may provoke hemodynamic instability.

Keyword

heart rate; ketamine; spontaneous baroreflex sensitivity

MeSH Terms

Anesthesia*
Anesthesia, General
Arterial Pressure
Baroreflex*
Electrocardiography
Heart Rate*
Heart*
Hemodynamics
Humans
Ketamine*
Liver
Tissue Donors
Ketamine