Prolonged sedation and airway complications after administration of an inadvertent ketamine overdose in emergency department

The use of ketamine for pediatric sedation in the Emergency Department for painful procedures has become increasingly popular. Ketamine is a safe and effective sedative for diagnostic or therapeutic procedures in the Emergency Department. Sedation with this dissociative agent produces a rapid onset action, potent analgesia, adequate sedation, amnesia and minimal side effects. We report a case of prolonged sedation and airway complications after administration of an inadvertent intramuscular ketamine overdose in a healthy child.