A ketamine package for use in emergency cesarean delivery when no anesthetist is available

The purpose of this research was to evaluate the safety and effectiveness of a ketamine-based anesthesia package to support emergency cesarean section when no anesthetist is available.

A prospective case-series was conducted between December 11, 2013 and September 30, 2021 across nine sub-county hospitals in Kenya. A total of 401 emergency cesarean sections were performed using ketamine, administered by 54 non-anesthetist providers. All mothers survived to discharge. Brief oxygen desaturations were recorded among 33 (8.2%) mothers, and agitation and hallucinations occurred among 13 (3.2%). There were no maternal serious adverse events. At 6-month follow-up, 94.2% of mothers who could be reached reported no complaints. Additionally, 402 (92.4%) of the 435 operative births survived to discharge.

The ESM-Ketamine package can be used by trained non-anesthetist providers to support emergency cesarean sections when no anesthetist is available. Ketamine has significant potential to increase access to emergency cesarean deliveries in resource-limited settings