{
  "abstract": "Background and Aims Ketamine, a well-established anaesthetic agent, has been used in clinical practice for about 50 years. It produces a distinct state of ‘dissociative anaesthesia’ wherein patients appear awake but remain unresponsive to surgical stimuli. Beyond its anaesthetic properties, ketamine has recently emerged as a valuable treatment option for neuropathic pain, particularly in patients unresponsive to conventional treatments. Its ability to block NMDA receptors in the central nervous system is possible mechanism of action in neuropathic pain relief1. In this case series we presents the clinical outcomes of three patients who received ketamine infusions for chronic pain management.Methods 1st patient: A 51-year-old woman presented with right forearm and hand pain for the last 4-months. Pain was moderate in intensity, burning, stabbing, & shooting and unresponsive to opioids and physical therapy. She achieved significant pain reduction and improved mobility after a series of ketamine infusions. 2nd Patient: A 24-year-old girl with chronic pelvic pain for 2 years, unresponsive to conventional pain therapy and multiple surgeries. She showed slight improvement in pain intensity and functional capacity after ketamine infusion. 3rd Patient: A 38-year-old man with a history of two previous lumbar spine surgeries, presented with severe lower back and limb pain, along with symptoms of burning and current-like sensations in his limbs. He experienced substantial pain relief and enhanced quality of life following low-dose ketamine infusions.Results All patients tolerated the infusions well, with transient dizziness being the most common side effect. there was a significant pain relief .No serious adverse events were observed.Conclusions This case series highlights the potential efficacy and safety of ketamine infusions in managing diverse chronic pain conditions. While results are promising, further studies are needed to establish standardized protocols and long-term outcomes.",
  "authors": [
    {
      "affiliations": [
        "Pain Medicine, Department of Anaesthesiology, The Aga Khan University, Karachi, Pakistan"
      ],
      "name": "Gouhar Afshan"
    },
    {
      "affiliations": [
        "Pain Medicine, Department of Anaesthesiology, The Aga Khan University, Karachi, Pakistan"
      ],
      "name": "Tanveer Baig"
    },
    {
      "affiliations": [
        "Pain Medicine, Department of Anaesthesiology, The Aga Khan University, Karachi, Pakistan"
      ],
      "name": "Ali Sarfraz Siddiqui"
    },
    {
      "affiliations": [
        "Pain Medicine, Department of Anaesthesiology, The Aga Khan University, Karachi, Pakistan"
      ],
      "name": "Nawaz Kamran"
    },
    {
      "affiliations": [
        "Pain Medicine, Department of Anaesthesiology, The Aga Khan University, Karachi, Pakistan"
      ],
      "name": "Ausaf Khan"
    },
    {
      "affiliations": [
        "Pain Medicine, Department of Anaesthesiology, The Aga Khan University, Karachi, Pakistan"
      ],
      "name": "Rozina Kerai"
    },
    {
      "affiliations": [
        "Pain Medicine, Department of Anaesthesiology, The Aga Khan University, Karachi, Pakistan"
      ],
      "name": "Shemila Abbasi"
    }
  ],
  "title": "P031 Exploring ketamine infusion therapy in complex chronic pain: insight from a case series",
  "uid": "7a0813fc-61cd-5800-b24d-b0352f628bb0"
}