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Combination of oral ketamine and midazolam as a premedication for a severely autistic and combative patient

Journal of Anesthesia volume 23, pages 126–128 (2009)Cite this article

Abstract

Patients with impaired ability to understand and communicate can be difficult to manage perioperatively. They frequently require lateral thinking on the part of the anesthesiologists to make the induction process as smooth as possible. We present a case of a severely autistic and violent patient scheduled for dental rehabilitation under general anesthesia. A combination of oral ketamine and midazolam was mixed in the beverage Dr Pepper to mask the taste and the appearance of the drugs. The unique flavor of Dr Pepper is well suited to increase the palatibility and the acceptability of medications in children and patients with developmental delay.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Pediatric Anesthesiology and Pain Medicine, Arkansas Children’s Hospital, 800 Marshall Street, Slot 203, Little Rock, AR, 72202, USA

    Shailesh Shah, Sonia Shah, Jesus Apuya, Senthil Gopalakrishnan & Timothy Martin

Authors
  1. Shailesh Shah
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  2. Sonia Shah
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  3. Jesus Apuya
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  4. Senthil Gopalakrishnan
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  5. Timothy Martin
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Shah, S., Shah, S., Apuya, J. et al. Combination of oral ketamine and midazolam as a premedication for a severely autistic and combative patient. J Anesth 23, 126–128 (2009). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00540-008-0685-4

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00540-008-0685-4

Key words

  • Premedication
  • Oral ketamine
  • Oral midazolam
  • Autistic patient