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Review
. 2025 Jun 6;17(6):e85456.
doi: 10.7759/cureus.85456. eCollection 2025 Jun.

Ketamine in Neurocritical Care: New Potentials and Perspectives

Rudin Domi  1 , Alma Cani  1 , Asead Abdyli  2 , Gentian Huti  2 , Stela Dodaj  3 , Filadelfo Coniglione  4   5 , Mirel Grada  6 , Vojsava Leka  3 , Majlinda Naco  1 , Mustafa Bajraktari  1
Affiliations
Review

Ketamine in Neurocritical Care: New Potentials and Perspectives

Rudin Domi et al. Cureus. .

Abstract

Ketamine is an intravenous hypnotic anesthetic that acts primarily by inhibiting N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptors, leading to a range of effects, including hypnosis, analgesia, anticonvulsant activity, anti-inflammatory action, and neuroprotection. Initially, there were concerns that ketamine might elevate intracranial pressure. However, these worries have since been dispelled, leading to a renewed consideration of its role in neurocritical care. This evolving understanding has facilitated its increasing use in neurosurgical patients, both in the operating room and intensive care units, where it provides hemodynamic stability and neuroprotective benefits. Additionally, ketamine has shown promise in managing specific neurological conditions such as stroke and refractory seizures, further broadening its clinical applications. This review aims to provide a comprehensive clinical summary of ketamine's usefulness in these settings.

Keywords: anticonvulsant; ketamine; neurocritical care; sedation; • neuroprotection.

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Conflict of interest statement

Conflicts of interest: In compliance with the ICMJE uniform disclosure form, all authors declare the following: Payment/services info: All authors have declared that no financial support was received from any organization for the submitted work. Financial relationships: All authors have declared that they have no financial relationships at present or within the previous three years with any organizations that might have an interest in the submitted work. Other relationships: All authors have declared that there are no other relationships or activities that could appear to have influenced the submitted work.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1. Inclusion criteria diagram
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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