National opioid shortage is associated with increased use of ketamine infusion for analgosedation in the medical intensive care unit

Authors

  • Gregory Eisinger, MD, MSSW https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2748-9603
  • Matthew Huang, MD
  • Michael S. Cardone, MD
  • Jessica L. Elefritz, PharmD, BCCP
  • Bruce Doepker, PharmD, BCPS
  • Matthew Exline, MD, MPH
  • Jennifer McCallister, MD

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.5055/jom.2022.0749

Keywords:

ketamine infusion, opioid shortage, analgosedation, ICU, mechanical ventilation

Abstract

Objective: To assess the impact of the national shortage of injectable opioids during the winter of 2017-2018 on the use of ketamine infusion for analgosedation in the medical intensive care unit (MICU).

Design: A retrospective cohort study.

Setting: Single-center tertiary care MICU at The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center.

Patients: All patients who received continuous infusion of ketamine to facilitate mechanical ventilation between May 1, 2015 and September 1, 2018.

Measurements and main results: Seventy-seven patients were identified during the study time frame: 43 before and 19 during the opioid shortage. During the peak of the shortage, there was a sevenfold increase in orders for ketamine infusion (2.2 patients/week vs 0.32 patients/week; p < 0.001). Median time from the start of mechanical ventilation to initiation of ketamine infusion was significantly shorter during the shortage (14.1 hours) versus before (51.2 hours; p = 0.03). There was a trend toward adding ketamine into the sedation regimen earlier during the shortage (mean number of drips added prior to ketamine was 2.74 during the shortage vs 3.3 before; p = 0.06). There was also a trend toward increased use of ketamine infusion as monotherapy during (21.1 percent of patients) versus before the shortage (7 percent), though this did not reach statistical significance (p = 0.19).

Conclusion: The national opioid shortage may have led to earlier and more frequent use of ketamine infusion for anaglosedation in mechanically ventilated MICU patients.

Author Biographies

Gregory Eisinger, MD, MSSW

Fellow in Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center, Columbus, Ohio

Matthew Huang, MD

Fellow in Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center, Columbus, Ohio

Michael S. Cardone, MD

Resident in Emergency and Internal Medicine, The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center, Columbus, Ohio.

 

Jessica L. Elefritz, PharmD, BCCP

Assistant Professor of Pharmacy, Residency Program Director, Critical Care Pharmacy, The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center, Columbus, Ohio

Bruce Doepker, PharmD, BCPS

Assistant Professor of Pharmacy, The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center, Columbus, Ohio

Matthew Exline, MD, MPH

Professor of Internal Medicine, Division of Pulmonary, Critical Care, and Sleep Medicine, ICU Medical Director, The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center, Columbus, Ohio

Jennifer McCallister, MD

Professor of Internal Medicine, Division of Pulmonary, Critical Care, and Sleep Medicine, Associate Dean of Medical Education, The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center, Columbus, Ohio

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Published

11/01/2022

How to Cite

Eisinger, MD, MSSW, G., M. Huang, MD, M. S. Cardone, MD, J. L. Elefritz, PharmD, BCCP, B. Doepker, PharmD, BCPS, M. Exline, MD, MPH, and J. McCallister, MD. “National Opioid Shortage Is Associated With Increased Use of Ketamine Infusion for Analgosedation in the Medical Intensive Care Unit”. Journal of Opioid Management, vol. 18, no. 6, Nov. 2022, pp. 537-45, doi:10.5055/jom.2022.0749.