Rapid agitation control with ketamine in the emergency department (RACKED): a randomized controlled trial protocol.

ABSTRACT:

Background

The rapid control of patients presenting to the emergency department (ED) with psychomotor agitation and violent behavior is paramount for the safety of patients and ED staff. The use of intramuscular (IM) ketamine in the pre-hospital and ED settings has demonstrated promising preliminary results to provide rapid and safe behavioral control. A prospective, randomized controlled trial is required to measure the potential superiority of IM ketamine compared to current standard care (IM benzodiazepines plus antipsychotics).

Methods

This will be a parallel, prospective, randomized, controlled trial of 5 mg/kg IM ketamine compared to a combination of 5 mg IM midazolam and 5 mg IM haloperidol. The study will enroll approximately 184 patients, randomized equally to two s

SUBMITTER: Barbic D 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6258312 | biostudies-literature | 2018 Nov

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature