Evidence map›Paper›PMID 36008492›Full record

SynthesisEuropean journal of clinical pharmacology2022

Use of ketamine in patients with refractory severe asthma exacerbations: systematic review of prospective studies.

Luigi La Via, Filippo Sanfilippo, Giuseppe Cuttone, Veronica Dezio, Monica Falcone, Serena Brancati, Claudia Crimi, Marinella Astuto

Open access · hybridAbstract readSystematic Review
In one paragraph

Synthesis in European journal of clinical pharmacology, 2022. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 29 papers, 1 of them a synthesis that pooled it.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
29citing papers in PubMed, 1 pooled it
4.1field-weighted citation impact, top 5% of its field
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

29 citing papers in PubMed, 1 synthesis or guideline pooled it, 39 citations in OpenAlex.

  1. Pooled it
  2. Trial
  3. Trial
  4. Trial
  5. Trial
  6. Review
  7. Review
  8. Ketamine or Esketamine in Special Populations of Patients With Treatment-Resistant Depression.Medical science monitor : international medical journal of experimental and clinical research · 2026
    Review
  9. Article
  10. Ketamine for Severe Asthma Exacerbation.Critical care explorations · 2026
    Observational
  11. Article
  12. Review
  13. Article
  14. Article
  15. Article
  16. Review
  17. Comparison of Fentanyl, Ketamine, and Lidocaine Combined with Propofol Anesthesia in Patients with Crohn Disease Undergoing Colonoscopy.Medical science monitor : international medical journal of experimental and clinical research · 2024
    Article
  18. Review
  19. Review
  20. Review
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

8 authors at 3 institutions in 1 country.

Luigi La Via *Department of Anesthesiology and Intensive Care, AOU "Policlinico - San Marco", 95123, Catania, Italy. luigilavia7@gmail.com.
Filippo Sanfilippo *Department of Anesthesiology and Intensive Care, AOU "Policlinico - San Marco", 95123, Catania, Italy.
Giuseppe CuttoneSchool of Specialization in Anesthesia and Intensive Care, University of Catania, Catania, Italy.
Veronica DezioDepartment of Anesthesiology and Intensive Care, AOU "Policlinico - San Marco", 95123, Catania, Italy.
Monica FalconeSchool of Specialization in Anesthesia and Intensive Care, University "Magna Graecia", Catanzaro, Italy.
Serena BrancatiClinical Pharmacology Unit/Regional Pharmacovigilance Centre, University Hospital of Catania, Catania, Italy.
Claudia CrimiDepartment of Pneumology, AOU "Policlinico - San Marco", Catania, Italy.
Marinella AstutoDepartment of Anesthesiology and Intensive Care, AOU "Policlinico - San Marco", 95123, Catania, Italy.
Policlinico Universitario di Catania · ITUniversity of Catania · ITMagna Graecia University · IT

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

purposeAsthma is a heterogeneous disease with a wide range of symptoms. Severe asthma exacerbations (SAEs) are characterized by worsening symptoms and bronchospasm requiring emergency department visits. In addition to conventional strategies for SAEs (inhaled β-agonists, anticholinergics, and systemic corticosteroids), another pharmacological option is represented by ketamine. We performed a systematic review to explore the role of ketamine in refractory SAEs.

methodsWe performed a systematic search on PubMed and EMBASE up to August 12th, 2021. We selected prospective studies only, and outcomes of interest were oxygenation/respiratory parameters, clinical status, need for invasive ventilation and effects on weaning.

resultsWe included a total of seven studies, five being randomized controlled trials (RCTs, population range 44-92 patients). The two small prospective studies (n = 10 and n = 11) did not have a control group. Four studies focused on adults, and three enrolled a pediatric population. We found a large heterogeneity regarding sample size, age and gender distribution, inclusion criteria (different severity scores, if any) and ketamine dosing (bolus and/or continuous infusion). Of the five RCTs, three compared ketamine to placebo, while one used fentanyl and the other aminophylline. The outcomes evaluated by the included studies were highly variable. Despite paucity of data and large heterogeneity, an overview of the included studies suggests absence of clear benefit produced by ketamine in patients with refractory SAE, and some signals towards side effects.

conclusionOur systematic review does not support the use of ketamine in refractory SAE. A limited number of prospective studies with large heterogeneity was found. Well-designed multicenter RCTs are desirable.

Indexed as

Anti-Asthmatic AgentsAsthmaKetamineAdrenal Cortex HormonesAdultAminophyllineChildCholinergic AntagonistsFentanylHumansMulticenter Studies as TopicProspective StudiesAdrenal Cortex HormonesAminophyllineAnti-Asthmatic AgentsCholinergic AntagonistsFentanylKetamineAminophyllineAsthmaBronchospasmFentanylInflammationMechanical ventilation

Identifiers

PMID36008492
PMCPMC9482594
OpenAlexW4293093355

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
LicenceCC BY
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.