Study looks into ketamine as opioid alternative for pain management
Aug 29, 2024, 3:14 PM
When EMTs are treating severe trauma victims in their ambulances, they typically use fentanyl and other opioids. (Canva)
(Canva)
SALT LAKE CITY — A new study is exploring the use of ketamine as a potential alternative to opioids for pain management in emergencies.
When EMTs are treating severe trauma victims in their ambulances, they typically use fentanyl and other opioids.
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“For adult patients who have been injured, who have been in a trauma scenario —they’ve been in a car accident, a shooting, stabbing, something like that— what’s the best way to treat the patient’s pain in those conditions?” asked the principal investigator of the study, Dr. Scott Youngquist with University of Utah Health.
U of U Health and the Department of Defense are conducting a blind study. They’re partnering with emergency medical services to administer a blind test while treating patients in severe pain.
Patients with traumatic injuries will get either fentanyl or ketamine as part of the study.
“We really want to know which drug is the safest in treating these patients and we’re also looking at mortality, do these patients survive better with one drug or another?”
The results will be instrumental for both U of U Health and the DOD in refining their trauma care protocols.
“They [the DOD] are interested in this sort of scenarios both for civilian trauma but also for their soldiers on the front line how can they treat their soldiers as well,” Youngquist said.
Youngquist noted that street versions of these drugs are different and in the hands of medical professionals are safe.
