Evidence map›Paper›PMID 39642307›Full record

Observational studyCritical care explorations2024

Effectiveness of Ketamine As a Rescue Drug for Patients Experiencing Benzodiazepine-Resistant Status Epilepticus in the Prehospital Setting.

Kenneth A Scheppke, Paul E Pepe, Sebastian A Garay, Charles W Coyle, Peter M Antevy, Michael C Perlmutter, Eric K Scheppke, Remle P Crowe

Abstract readObservational Study
In one paragraph

Observational study in Critical care explorations, 2024. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 1 paper.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
1citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
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

1 citing paper in PubMed.

  1. Intramuscular Ketamine Pharmacokinetics in Humans: A Review.European journal of drug metabolism and pharmacokinetics · 2026
    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.

Kenneth A ScheppkePalm Beach County Fire Rescue, Palm Beach County, West Palm Beach, FL.
Paul E PepePalm Beach County Fire Rescue, Palm Beach County, West Palm Beach, FL.ORCID 0000-0001-7765-6567
Sebastian A GarayPalm Beach County Fire Rescue, Palm Beach County, West Palm Beach, FL.
Charles W CoylePalm Beach County Fire Rescue, Palm Beach County, West Palm Beach, FL.
Peter M AntevyPalm Beach County Fire Rescue, Palm Beach County, West Palm Beach, FL.
Michael C PerlmutterDepartment of Emergency Medicine, Hennepin County Medical Center, Minneapolis, MN.
Eric K ScheppkeEdward Via College of Osteopathic Medicine, Auburn, AL.
Remle P CroweDepartment of Clinical and Operational Research, ESO, Austin, TX.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

objectivesAccumulating basic science data, early clinical findings and various feasibility considerations have provided rationales for administering ketamine as a proposed rescue medication for midazolam-resistant status epilepticus (SE) in the logistically challenging prehospital environment. This report details the multiyear experience of paramedics managing midazolam-resistant SE following the introduction of a ketamine-rescue protocol.

designA 7-year, population-based, observational study was conducted to evaluate outcomes of patients treated with IV, intraosseous, intramuscular, or intranasal ketamine for SE despite sufficient midazolam dosings. Tracked outcomes included: 1) rapid/sustained termination of clinical seizures in adults while under paramedics' care; 2) corresponding evaluations in children/adolescents; 3) any concerning observations regarding need for assisted ventilation, intubation, or other active interventions post-ketamine; and 4) any identifiable associations between outcomes and circumstances, demographics, or medical history.

settingEmergency response 9-1-1 system serving a large, diverse U.S. county (jurisdictional population, 961,000/1,769 sq miles). PATIENTS: Those receiving ketamine from paramedics for persistent seizures.

interventionsAdults and adolescents: 100 mg ketamine IV/intraosseous/intramuscular/intranasal; children: 1 mg/kg intramuscular/intranasal. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN

resultsAmong 81 total cases, 57 involved adults (18-86 yr old) receiving the SE-midazolam + ketamine protocol. Ketamine rapidly terminated convulsions in 56 (98.2%) without recurrence during prehospital and hospital arrival phases. For approved reasons, paramedics administered ketamine directly (no midazolam) in eight adults and one child, terminating convulsions in every case. Among 15 childhood/adolescent cases treated per protocol, ketamine rapidly terminated SE activity in 11, but only mitigated it in four, including two retrospectively judged to involve nonseizure activity and two involving intranasal administration. Among all 81 ketamine-treated cases, there were no identifiable clinically significant complications attributable to ketamine, particularly the need for any additional active interventions.

conclusionsKetamine appeared to be consistently effective in treating adults with ongoing out-of-hospital seizures that were resistant to sufficient dosings of midazolam. Similar results were observed in children/adolescents.

Indexed as

Emergency Medical ServicesKetamineStatus EpilepticusAdolescentAdultAgedAged, 80 and overAnticonvulsantsBenzodiazepinesChildFemaleHumansMaleMidazolamMiddle AgedYoung AdultAnticonvulsantsBenzodiazepinesKetamineMidazolam

Identifiers

PMID39642307
PMCPMC11627481

What OpenQuestion holds

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LicenceCC BY-NC-ND
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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.