Evidence map›Paper›PMID 36972961›Full record

SynthesisBMJ open2023

Subanaesthetic single-dose ketamine as an adjunct to opioid analgesics for acute pain management in the emergency department: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Stine Fjendbo Galili, Lone Nikolajsen, Nicholas Papadomanolakis-Pakis

Open access · goldAbstract readMeta-AnalysisSystematic Review
In one paragraph

Synthesis in BMJ open, 2023. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 4 papers, 1 of them a synthesis that pooled it.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
4citing papers in PubMed, 1 pooled it
3.5field-weighted citation impact, top 8% 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

4 citing papers in PubMed, 1 synthesis or guideline pooled it, 10 citations in OpenAlex.

  1. Pooled it
  2. La Tunisie medicale · 2024
    Trial
  3. Review
  4. Article
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

3 authors at 1 institution in 1 country.

Stine Fjendbo GaliliResearch Center for Emergency Medicine, Aarhus University, Aarhus, Denmark s.galili@clin.au.dk.ORCID 0000-0003-4569-7027
Lone NikolajsenClinical Medicine, Aarhus University, Aarhus, Denmark.
Nicholas Papadomanolakis-PakisClinical Medicine, Aarhus University, Aarhus, Denmark.ORCID 0000-0002-9624-6552
Aarhus University · DK

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

objectiveTo evaluate the effectiveness of a subanaesthetic single-dose ketamine (SDK) as an adjunct to opioids for acute pain in emergency department (ED) settings.

designSystematic review and meta-analysis.

methodsA systematic search was performed in MEDLINE, Embase, Scopus and Web of Science through March 2022. Randomised controlled trials (RCTs) that investigated SDK as an adjunct to opioids in adult patients for any painful condition in ED settings were selected. Two reviewers screened studies, extracted data and assessed study quality. Data were pooled using random-effects models. The primary outcome was mean pain intensity score measured at baseline, >0-15 min, >15-30 min, >30-45 min, 60 min, 90 min and 120 min. Secondary outcomes included need for rescue analgesia, adverse events and patient satisfaction. Results were reported as mean differences (MDs) and risk ratios. Statistical heterogeneity was calculated using the

resultsEight RCTs were included (n=903). Studies were judged to be at moderate to high risk of bias. Mean pain intensity scores were significantly lower 60 min after study drug administration favouring adjuvant SDK (MD -0.76; 95% CI -1.19 to -0.33), compared with opioids alone. There was no evidence of differences in mean pain intensity scores at any other time point. Patients who received adjuvant SDK were less likely to require rescue analgesia, no more likely to experience serious side effects and had higher satisfaction scores, compared with opioids alone.

conclusionsAvailable evidence suggests adjuvant SDK can have an effect on lowering pain intensity scores. Although reduction of pain scores was not clinically significant, the combination of reduced pain intensity and reduced opioid requirements suggest the results could be clinically important and support the potential utility of SDK as an adjunct to opioids to treat acute pain in adult ED patients. However, current evidence is limited and higher quality RCTs are needed. PROSPERO REGISTRATION NUMBER: CRD42021276708.

Indexed as

Acute PainKetamineAdultAnalgesics, OpioidEmergency Service, HospitalHumansPain ManagementAnalgesics, OpioidKetamineACCIDENT & EMERGENCY MEDICINEPain managementPAIN MANAGEMENTTHERAPEUTICS

Identifiers

PMID36972961
PMCPMC10069507
OpenAlexW4360999785

What OpenQuestion holds

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LicenceCC BY-NC
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.