Subanalgesic Dose of Ketamine Added to Tramadol Does Not Reduce Analgesic Demand; [Tramadole, Subanaljezik Dozda Ketamin İlavesi Analjezik Gereksinimini Azaltmiyor]

Yentür E.A.; Topçu I.; Keleş G.T.; Taşyüz T.; Sakarya M.

Subanalgesic Dose of Ketamine Added to Tramadol Does Not Reduce Analgesic Demand; [Tramadole, Subanaljezik Dozda Ketamin İlavesi Analjezik Gereksinimini Azaltmiyor]

Date

2004

Authors

Abstract

Tramadol is an analgesic with agonistic properties on opioid receptors. In this study we investigated the effect of systemic coadministration of subanalgesic dose of ketamine with tramadol on postoperative tramadol consumption. By this way we intended to find a clue whether tramadol also have opioid induced algesic effect like morphine via NMDA receptors. Thirty patients undergoing abdominal surgery with general anesthesia were enrolled in this prospective, placebo controlled, double blind study. Anesthesia was induced with propofol 2-2.5 mg kg-1 and was maintained with sevoflurane in N2O/O2 mixture. Muscle relaxation was provided by vecuronium. Analgesia was maintained by iv remifentanyl infusion. Infusion of remifentanyl was stopped 15 min before the end of operation, and 10 min later patients were randomly administered either 75 mg kg-1 ketamine (5 mL) and 1 mg kg-1 tramadol (ketamin group) or normal saline (5 ml) and 1 mg kg-1 tramadol bolus (placebo group). Intravenous PCA with tramadol was started on the arrival at postoperative recovery room, and continued for 24 hours in all patients. Pain and sedation scores were evaluated in the recovery room every 15 min until the time of discharge to the ward. Aldrete Post Anesthesia Recovery Scores (≥9) were used as discharge criteria. Total tramadol consumptions at the 6th and 24th hours were recorded. There was no significant difference between the groups with respect to Visual Analog Scale (6.1±1.1 vs 6.6±1.1) and total tramadol consumption (51.5±26.4 vs 53.7±18.3 mg) at the end of recovery period (p>0.05). Also the total tramadol consumptions at 6th and 24th hours (188.9±82.9 vs 215.3±104.7 and 365.0±118.6 vs 403.8±243.8 respectively) were not different between groups (p>0.05). Subanalgesic dose of ketamine did not augment tramadol induced analgesia so these findings may suggest that tramadol does not have NMDA receptor activating property like morphine.