Ketamine as primary anesthetic for upper limb trauma during war: a case series of 100 surgeries at Rafik Hariri University Hospital, Lebanon’s National War Trauma Referral Center | Synapse
February 6, 2026Open Access
Ketamine as primary anesthetic for upper limb trauma during war: a case series of 100 surgeries at Rafik Hariri University Hospital, Lebanon’s National War Trauma Referral Center
Key Points
To evaluate the use of ketamine as a primary anesthetic for upper limb trauma surgeries in a war setting.
Conducted a case series of 100 surgeries using ketamine as the primary anesthetic.
Focused on upper limb trauma cases at Rafik Hariri University Hospital.
Assessed the safety and effectiveness of ketamine in a resource-limited environment.
Ketamine was found to be a safe and effective anesthetic.
Patients experienced reduced need for opioids during and after surgery.
The results support the use of ketamine in conflict scenarios.
Abstract
Ketamine is a safe, effective, opioid-sparing anesthetic and should be prioritized in conflict and resource-limited trauma settings.