Commentary: Neuroprotection in Hypothermic Circulatory Arrest – is ketamine a magic bullet?

Although hypothermic circulatory arrest remains an essential technique in contemporary cardiac surgery, it carries a significant risk of neurological injury.1-2 The quest for neuroprotection in this setting has been multimodal, including cerebral perfusion adjuncts and neuroprotective agents such as ketamine.3-4 The neuroprotective effects of ketamine are, however, dependent on clinical context.3-5 Consequently, clinical controversy has persisted about whether ketamine is truly neuroprotective after cardiac surgery.
Source: Seminars in Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery - Category: Cardiovascular & Thoracic Surgery Authors: Tags: ADULT – Commentary Source Type: research