Somashekharappa Basavanneppa Kadur1, Manjunath Timmappa Bhat2
BACKGROUND
Awareness during general anaesthesia for caesarean section is a big concern because of its serious adverse consequences. It has been reported that ketamine used as induction agent reduces awareness. This study was conducted to compare awareness under general anaesthesia when thiopentone and ketamine are used as induction agents for caesarean section.
MATERIALS AND METHODS
Fifty healthy mothers scheduled for elective caesarean section were randomly divided into two groups to receive thiopentone (4 mg/kg-1) or ketamine (1.5 mg/kg-1) for induction of anaesthesia. Mothers were examined for intraoperative awareness using isolated forearm technique until the delivery of the baby. Postoperatively, they were spoken about recall and any hallucination by using a set of questionnaire.
RESULTS
15% patients who received thiopentone were able to follow the commands compared to 8% patients who received ketamine. 65% patients who received thiopentone made reaching movements of the isolated forearm towards the stimulus compared to 20% patients of ketamine group. None of the patients in thiopentone group experienced any hallucinations compared to 1 patient (4%) in ketamine group who exhibited hallucinations. None of fifty patients could recall the intraoperative events like squeezing of hands or the pain of operation.
CONCLUSION
Ketamine can be used as substitute for thiopentone as an induction agent in a dose equal to 1.5 mg/kg-1. Having profound analgesic effect, property to maintain foetoplacental exchange better than any other induction agents, ketamine can be used routinely as an induction agent for mothers undergoing caesarean section under general anaesthesia.
