Recurrent hallucinations following ketamine

Anaesthesia. 1976 Oct;31(8):1081-3. doi: 10.1111/j.1365-2044.1976.tb11948.x.

Abstract

Recurrent hallucinations appeared in an 11-year-old boy during 5 days following ketamine anaesthesia. Previous anaesthesia with ketamine and adequate diazepam supplementation did not produce any such effect. The phenomenon of delayed recurring hallucinations is a rare but dangerous side-effect of ketamine, not unlike LSD flashbacks. The described case lends support to previous reports on the value of diazepam in the prevention of post-ketamine perceptual abnormalities.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Anesthesia, General
  • Child
  • Diazepam
  • Hallucinations / chemically induced*
  • Hallucinations / prevention & control
  • Humans
  • Ketamine / adverse effects*
  • Male
  • Time Factors

Substances

  • Ketamine
  • Diazepam