The Effects of Ketamine on Respiratory Stimulation and Transpulmonary Pressures

The Effects of Subanesthetic Ketamine on Respiratory Stimulation and Transpulmonary Pressures in Mechanically Ventilated Critically Ill Patients

Impairment of airway patency is a common cause of extubation failure and opioids and hypnotics can adversely affect airway patency. Ketamine, a noncompetitive antagonist of N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA), unlike other anesthetics activates respiratory effort and promotes bronchodilation. At subanesthetic plasma concentration, ketamine reduces both opioid and propofol requirements.

The purpose of this pharmaco-physiological interaction trial is to evaluate the effects of ketamine on breathing and electroencephalography in mechanically ventilated patients.

Study Overview

• Status: Completed
• Conditions: Mechanical Ventilation; Respiratory Depression; Airway Patency
• Intervention / Treatment: Drug: Subanesthetic ketamine

Detailed Description

Maintaining the patency of the upper airway in sedated and anesthetized patients is challenging especially when patients are ready to be weaned from mechanical ventilation. Spontaneous breathing trial (SBT) is used to expedite the weaning process, which oftentimes requires the reduction and/or discontinuation of sedatives and analgesics. In some surgical patients, reducing these medications can lead to pain associated agitation and inability to conduct SBTs, which may prolong the need for mechanical ventilation. Using medications with narcotic sparing effects and that do not cause respiratory depression may allow for the reduction or discontinuation of agents that depress respiratory drive and subsequently facilitate extubation.

Ketamine has been used for many years in critically ill patients for sedation and analgesia. This noncompetitive antagonist of N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) is used as an anesthetic and analgesic and has been shown to reduce opioid consumption and to prevent the development of opioid tolerance. Unlike other anesthetics, ketamine activates respiratory effort and promotes bronchodilation. At subanesthetic plasma concentration, ketamine reduces both opioid and propofol requirements.

The goal of this pharmaco-physiological interaction trial is to evaluate the effects of ketamine at a subanesthetic dose on breathing and electroencephalography. The investigators hypothesize that ketamine drip at a subanesthetic infusion rate (low dose ketamine 5 - 10 mcg/kg/min) is associated with respiratory stimulating effects and does not markedly increase transpulmonary pressure in mechanically ventilated patients.

The primary outcome is respiratory function, assessed through peak inspiratory flow, tidal volume,respiratory rate, duty cycle, and minute ventilation measured 15 minutes prior to initiation of ketamine infusion (to serve as baseline), at 60 minutes of ketamine infusion at 5mcg/kg/min, at another 60 minutes of infusion at 10mcg/kg/min, at which point the infusion is stopped for 3 hours for a final set of measurements.

• Study Type: Interventional
• Enrollment (Actual): 15
• Phase: Not Applicable

Contacts and Locations

Study Locations

• United States
  • Massachusetts
    • Boston, Massachusetts, United States, 02215
      • Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center
    • Boston, Massachusetts, United States, 02114
      • Massachusetts General Hospital

Participation Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

• Ages Eligible for Study: 18 years and older (Adult, Older Adult)
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: No

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

• Age ≥ 18 years admitted to ICU requiring mechanical ventilation
• Suitable for spontaneous breathing trial
• Candidate to received low dose ketamine by the primary critical care team

Exclusion Criteria:

• Esophageal injury
• Allergic to ketamine
• Known neurodegenerative disorders
• Major neurologic disorders (elevated ICP)

Study Plan

How is the study designed?

Design Details

• Primary Purpose: Treatment
• Allocation: N/A
• Interventional Model: Single Group Assignment
• Masking: None (Open Label)

Number of Arms

1

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm	Intervention / Treatment
Experimental: Cohort; Adult mechanically ventilated patients who are deemed eligible for a spontaneous breathing trial and are candidates to receive subanesthetic ketamine by the primary critical care team.	Drug: Subanesthetic ketamine; Ketamine drip at a subanesthetic infusion rate (low dose ketamine 5 - 10 mcg/kg/min)

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Inspiratory Airflow	Inspiratory airflow measured during spontaneous breathing trials without ventilator support using a calibrated pneumotachometer connected to the ventilatory circuit. Airflow signals were recorded along with airway and esophageal pressures and analyzed. Inspiratory airflow represents the rate of air entering the lungs during inspiration and is reported in liters per second (L/s). Higher values indicate greater inspiratory airflow during spontaneous breathing. Measurements were obtained during brief spontaneous breathing trials performed at predefined study time points.	During spontaneous breathing trials at baseline (prior to ketamine infusion), after 60 minutes of ketamine infusion at 5 mcg/kg/min, and after 60 minutes of ketamine infusion at 10 mcg/kg/min

Secondary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
EEG Beta-gamma Power	Electroencephalogram (EEG) power spectrum density was measured using four frontal electrodes with the SedLine monitor and analyzed using multitaper spectral methods. Changes in beta-gamma power (19-44 Hz) were expressed in decibels (dB) relative to baseline using artifact-free ~3-minute segments at predefined time points. The reported value represents the maximum increase in spectral power across the frequency range, capturing the strongest frequency-specific effect, which may be diluted by averaging across the band if central tendency is used. This approach is standard in spectral analyses to detect peak effects and potential frequency shifts. Power spectra are continuous functions and peak values are the dominant signal components because they represent the strongest oscillatory activity the brain could achieve in a predefined frequency range.	Baseline (prior to ketamine infusion), after 60 minutes of ketamine infusion at 5 mcg/kg/min, and after 60 minutes of ketamine infusion at 10 mcg/kg/min.
Minute Ventilation	Minute ventilation measured during spontaneous breathing trials without ventilator support using a calibrated pneumotachometer connected to the ventilatory circuit. Minute ventilation represents the total volume of air inhaled or exhaled per minute and is calculated as tidal volume multiplied by respiratory rate. Values are reported in liters per minute (L/min). Higher values indicate greater overall ventilation during spontaneous breathing. Measurements were derived from airflow recordings.	During spontaneous breathing trials at baseline (prior to ketamine infusion), after 60 minutes of ketamine infusion at 5 mcg/kg/min, and after 60 minutes of ketamine infusion at 10 mcg/kg/min.
Tidal Volume	Tidal volume measured during spontaneous breathing trials without ventilator support using a calibrated pneumotachometer connected to the ventilatory circuit. Tidal volume represents the volume that enters the lungs during a single breath and is reported in liters (L). Values were derived from airflow recordings analyzed using spirometry software. Higher values indicate larger breath volumes during spontaneous breathing at the predefined study time points.	During spontaneous breathing trials at baseline (prior to ketamine infusion), after 60 minutes of ketamine infusion at 5 mcg/kg/min, and after 60 minutes of ketamine infusion at 10 mcg/kg/min.
Work of Breathing	Inspiratory work of breathing measured during spontaneous breathing trials using esophageal pressure (Pes) and tidal volume recordings. Work of breathing was calculated from the area under the inspiratory limb of the esophageal pressure-volume loop for each breathing cycle. Values were averaged across breaths during the recording period and normalized to tidal volume. Work of breathing was expressed in joules per liter (J/L). Higher values indicate greater mechanical effort required to inhale.	During spontaneous breathing trials at baseline (prior to ketamine infusion), after 60 minutes of ketamine infusion at 5 mcg/kg/min, and after 60 minutes of ketamine infusion at 10 mcg/kg/min.
Inspiratory Airway Resistance	Inspiratory airway resistance measured during spontaneous breathing trials using airway flow and esophageal pressure recordings. Resistance was estimated using the Mead and Whittenberger method, calculated as (Pes - PesLR)/V̇, where Pes is esophageal pressure, PesLR is the pressure on the lung elastic recoil curve at the same tidal volume, and V̇ is airflow. Measurements were made at an absolute tidal volume of 100 ml and averaged across breathing cycles during the recording period. Values are reported in cmH2O/L/s. Higher values indicate greater resistance to airflow during inspiration.	During spontaneous breathing trials at baseline (prior to ketamine infusion), after 60 minutes of ketamine infusion at 5 mcg/kg/min, and after 60 minutes of ketamine infusion at 10 mcg/kg/min.
Lung Compliance	Lung compliance measured during spontaneous breathing trials using tidal volume and esophageal pressure recordings. Compliance was calculated as the change in tidal volume divided by the change in esophageal pressure (ΔVT/ΔPes) measured between zero-flow states at the beginning and end of inspiration. Values represent respiratory system compliance and are reported in milliliters per centimeter of water pressure (mL/cmH2O). Higher values indicate greater lung compliance, reflecting a larger volume change for a given pressure change.	During spontaneous breathing trials at baseline (prior to ketamine infusion), after 60 minutes of ketamine infusion at 5 mcg/kg/min, and after 60 minutes of ketamine infusion at 10 mcg/kg/min.

Collaborators and Investigators

• Sponsor: Massachusetts General Hospital
• Collaborators: Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center
• Investigators: Study Director: Matthias Eikermann, MD, PhD, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center; Principal Investigator: Lorenzo Berra, MD, Massachusetts General Hospital

Publications and helpful links

General Publications

• Eikermann M, Grosse-Sundrup M, Zaremba S, Henry ME, Bittner EA, Hoffmann U, Chamberlin NL. Ketamine activates breathing and abolishes the coupling between loss of consciousness and upper airway dilator muscle dysfunction. Anesthesiology. 2012 Jan;116(1):35-46. doi: 10.1097/ALN.0b013e31823d010a.
• Esteban A, Frutos F, Tobin MJ, Alia I, Solsona JF, Valverdu I, Fernandez R, de la Cal MA, Benito S, Tomas R, et al. A comparison of four methods of weaning patients from mechanical ventilation. Spanish Lung Failure Collaborative Group. N Engl J Med. 1995 Feb 9;332(6):345-50. doi: 10.1056/NEJM199502093320601.
• Menigaux C, Fletcher D, Dupont X, Guignard B, Guirimand F, Chauvin M. The benefits of intraoperative small-dose ketamine on postoperative pain after anterior cruciate ligament repair. Anesth Analg. 2000 Jan;90(1):129-35. doi: 10.1097/00000539-200001000-00029.
• Hirota K, Hashimoto Y, Sakai T, Sato T, Ishihara H, Matsuki A. In vivo spasmolytic effect of ketamine and adrenaline on histamine-induced airway constriction. Direct visualization method with a superfine fibreoptic bronchoscope. Acta Anaesthesiol Scand. 1998 Feb;42(2):184-8. doi: 10.1111/j.1399-6576.1998.tb05106.x.
• Morel DR, Forster A, Gemperle M. Noninvasive evaluation of breathing pattern and thoraco-abdominal motion following the infusion of ketamine or droperidol in humans. Anesthesiology. 1986 Oct;65(4):392-8. doi: 10.1097/00000542-198610000-00008.
• Kissin I, Bright CA, Bradley EL Jr. The effect of ketamine on opioid-induced acute tolerance: can it explain reduction of opioid consumption with ketamine-opioid analgesic combinations? Anesth Analg. 2000 Dec;91(6):1483-8. doi: 10.1097/00000539-200012000-00035.

Study record dates

Study Major Dates

• Study Start: January 1, 2014
• Primary Completion (Actual): December 1, 2022
• Study Completion (Actual): December 1, 2022

Study Registration Dates

• First Submitted: October 8, 2013
• First Submitted That Met QC Criteria: October 21, 2013
• First Posted (Estimated): October 25, 2013

Study Record Updates

• Last Update Posted (Actual): May 19, 2026
• Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria: April 27, 2026
• Last Verified: April 1, 2026

More Information

Terms related to this study

• Keywords: Extubation; Mechanical ventilation; Transpulmonary pressure; Subanesthetic ketamine; Spontaneous breathing trial
• Additional Relevant MeSH Terms: Respiratory Tract Diseases; Respiration Disorders; Respiratory Insufficiency; Physiological Effects of Drugs; Neurotransmitter Agents; Molecular Mechanisms of Pharmacological Action; Central Nervous System Depressants; Peripheral Nervous System Agents; Analgesics; Sensory System Agents; Anesthetics, Dissociative; Anesthetics, Intravenous; Anesthetics, General; Anesthetics; Excitatory Amino Acid Antagonists; Excitatory Amino Acid Agents; Ketamine
• Other Study ID Numbers: 2013P001690