A NEW ROUTE, JET INJECTION FOR ANESTHETIC INDUCTION IN CHILDREN .3. KETAMINE PHARMACOKINETIC STUDIES

The jet injector route for ketamine was used on 30 children 1 - 6 year s of age undergoing various surgical procedures. A randomly selected d ose of 2.5, 3.5, or 6.0 mg/kg of ketamine was given to induce anesthes ia. Peak plasma ketamine levels did not follow a simple arithmetic inc rement related to dose. Dosage based on mg/m(2) body surface area or m g/kg body weight provided similar blood levels of ketamine. The beta-p hase t(1/2) of ketamine in these children was shorter than that found in adults. Considerable individual variability was observed in both th e plasma levels to a given dose of jet-injected ketamine and in the be ta-phase t(1/2). The ketamine beta-t(1/2)s were not dose related.