ketamine Archive — Page 1 of 1

Five masked clinicians in an emergency department prepare for a difficult airway procedure around a supine patient. One holds a video laryngoscope while others handle airway equipment, including a bag-valve mask and laryngeal mask airway; monitoring equipment and medical supplies surround the bed.
December 10, 2025

Sedative choice could improve outcomes for breathing tube patients

It’s the first study to demonstrate cardiovascular risks of high doses of ketamine (low blood pressure, arrhythmia), side effects that have not been well studied in the past.

By Craig Boerner
An initiative at VUMC is helping patients recover more quickly from major surgery, leave the hospital earlier and have fewer side effects from their pain management. (photo by Joe Howell)
December 2, 2025

Ketamine fails surgical recovery trial

In a large, placebo-controlled, randomized trial, the pain reliever ketamine posed side effects while failing to aid patient recovery after major surgery.

By Paul Govern
VUMC NEWS logo in white lettering inside a cyan and yellow outlined square on a blue gradient background.
January 9, 2024

VUMC receives $13 million grant to coordinate multisite clinical trial for Rett syndrome treatment

Vanderbilt University Medical Center received a $13 million Department of Defense grant to lead a multisite clinical trial that will evaluate repurposed FDA-approved drugs as treatment options for patients with Rett syndrome.

By Danny Bonvissuto
VUMC NEWS logo in white lettering inside a cyan and yellow outlined square on a blue gradient background.
July 18, 2023

VUMC receives $7 million award from PCORI to compare breathing tube sedation

Vanderbilt University Medical Center has received a $7 million, five-year funding award from the Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Institute to compare two sedatives used to place breathing tubes in the emergency department or intensive care unit.

By Nancy Humphrey
Portrait of a smiling man in a dark suit, white shirt, and patterned tie.
April 4, 2023

Study shows ketamine could be beneficial for treating brain injury in children

Vanderbilt research shows a common anesthesia drug could be beneficial in reducing pressure inside the skull of children with traumatic brain injuries.

By Craig Boerner
VUMC NEWS logo in white lettering inside a cyan and yellow outlined square on a blue gradient background.
April 13, 2022

Best way to place patients on breathing machines studied

Starting on April 4, Vanderbilt providers initiated the “Randomized Trial of Sedative Choice for Intubation” (RSI) study to determine whether ketamine or etomidate is better for preventing low blood pressure, low oxygen levels, serious heart problems, or even death for severely ill patients undergoing intubation.

By Kylie Avery