Rapid Agitation Control With Ketamine in the Emergency Department

Inclusion criteria

• Age 19 - 60 years inclusively;
• Patients presenting to the emergency department with psychomotor agitation or violent behaviour (RASS score > +3).

Exclusion criteria

• Less than 19 years of age;
• Greater than 60 years of age;
• Previous participation in this study;
• Women suspected or known to be pregnant or breastfeeding;
• Previous known hypersensitivity, intolerance or allergy to ketamine, midazolam or haloperidol or their components.
• Subjects who are in comatose states or have CNS depression due to alcohol or are taking other depressant drugs.
• Subjects with severe depressive states, spastic diseases and in Parkinson's syndrome, except in the case of dyskinesias due to levodopa treatment.
• Senile patients with pre-existing Parkinson-like symptoms.
• Subjects with a history of cerebrovascular accident
• Subjects in whom a significant elevation of blood pressure would constitute a serious hazard, such as patients with significant hypertension
• Subjects with severe cardiac decompensation
• Subjects who intend to have surgery of the pharynx, larynx, or bronchial tree unless adequate muscle relaxants are used
• Subjects with acute pulmonary insufficiency
• Subjects with severe chronic obstructive pulmonary disease
• Subjects with acute narrow angle glaucoma