Ketamine may be a reasonable choice for postoperative cardiac surgery analgesia and may reduce the need for opioids on discharge, and possibly during admission.

This study is a single center, retrospective, observational, cohort study involving adult patients admitted for cardiac surgery at a single center during a one year period comparing those who received a single dose of ketamine, 0.3 mg/kg over 30 minutes with those who did not.

A total of 120 patient charts were reviewed, of which 96 met inclusion criteria. 32 patients had received ketamine and 64 had not.

Charts were reviewed for opioid and other pain medication requirements as well as secondary outcomes including hospital length of stay, ICU length of stay, in-hospital and 30-day mortality, 30-day readmission, and rates of delirium, emergence reactions, and need for additional respiratory support.

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