Ketamine and Glutamate After Brain Injury : a Microdialysis Study

Brief Summary

The objective of the study is to compare the effects of 48 hours ketamine infusion versus sufentanil infusion on brain glutamate concentrations measured with microdialysis after traumatic brain injury.

We hypothesize that ketamine infusion will decrease high glutamate values faster than sufentanil.

Intervention / Treatment

  • Drug: Ketamine
  • Drug: Sufentanil

Condition or Disease

  • Head Trauma

Phase

Study Design

Study type: Interventional
Status: Unknown status
Study results: No Results Available
Age: 18 Years and older   (Adult, Older Adult)
Enrollment: 20 ()
Funded by: Other

Masking

Clinical Trial Dates

Start date: Oct 14, 2020
Primary Completion: Oct 16, 2020
Completion Date: May 17, 2020
Study First Posted: Sep 05, 2014
Results First Posted: Aug 31, 2020
Last Updated: Sep 05, 2014

Sponsors / Collaborators

Lead Sponsor: N/A
Responsible Party: N/A

Inclusion of 20 consecutive head trauma patients. Randomization and double-blind to compare the effects of ketamine versus sufentanil on brain glutamate concentrations measured with microdialysis.

Ketamine is an anti-N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) medication. It is supposed to limit excitotoxicity of amino-acids, especially glutamate. Glutamate is known to be elevated in more than 60% of the severe head trauma patients. It induces cortical spreading depression which can aggravate prognosis. It's a daily used medication in anesthesia and intensive care units for sedation and induction of anesthesia. It's the recommended medication for induction of unstable wounded soldiers on the field because of its neutrality on haemodynamic state.

Sufentanil is the reference opioid for sedation in ICU in Europe. It can induce hypotension which is deleterious for cerebral perfusion pressure after brain trauma.

In our unit, patients with severe head injury are monitored by a triple lumen access device including ICP (IntraCerebral Pressure), PtiO2 (oxygen pressure in the brain) and microdialysis. This last monitoring allows measurement of brain parenchymal concentrations of small molecules : glucose, lactate, pyruvate, glutamate, glycerol,.... It's a tool to evaluate the metabolic state of the brain divided into 4 categories : normal, hyperglycolysis, ischemia and metabolic crisis.

Then, we will detail the effects of ketamine on metabolic state of the brain, especially glutamate concentration. Normal values are below 10 micromol/ml. After head trauma it can dramatically increase to values up to 50 or even 100 micromol/ml, with normalization after 24 hours. Ketamine is expected to decrease these high values faster than described in observational studies.

Eligibility Criteria

Sex: All
Minimum Age: 18

More Details

NCT Number: NCT02232347
Acronym: KETABRAIN
Other IDs: DCSSA KETABRAIN
Study URL: https://ClinicalTrials.gov/show/NCT02232347
Last updated: Jun 17, 2022