Prehospital sedation with ketamine vs. midazolam: Repeat sedation, intubation, and hospital outcomes

Emergency medical service (EMS) providers often encounter acutely agitated patients who can pose serious threats to themselves, bystanders, and EMS, Fire, and Law Enforcement personnel [1]. Severe, acute, undifferentiated agitation can be a symptom of drug ingestion or underlying medical or psychiatric disorders, and not all agitated patients respond similarly to chemical sedation [2]. Conventionally, paramedics treat agitated patients in the prehospital settings with benzodiazepines to calm the patient sufficiently to complete medical assessment and care.
Source: The American Journal of Emergency Medicine - Category: Emergency Medicine Authors: Source Type: research