Using ketamine for sedation to protect the brain after cardiac arrest
Official title: KETamine Sedation As Neuroprotective Agent Following Out-of-hospital Cardiac Arrest (OHCA) - the KETOHCA Trial
Run by Copenhagen University Hospital, Rigshospitalet · NCT06744361 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is testing if using ketamine as a sedative can better protect the brains of adults who have survived a cardiac arrest compared to the usual sedative, propofol.
Quick facts
| Phase | Phase 2 |
|---|---|
| Study type | Interventional |
| Ages | 18 Years and up |
| Sex | All |
| Enrollment | 282 (estimated) |
| Sponsor | Copenhagen University Hospital, Rigshospitalet Academic / other |
| Locations | 2 sites (Copenhagen and 1 other locations) |
| Status | Recruiting |
| Started | December 12, 2024 |
| Main results expected | September 1, 2027 |
| Study ends | September 1, 2027 |
| Registry record updated | December 20, 2024 |
| Trial ID | NCT06744361 on ClinicalTrials.gov |
Is this trial a fit for you?
✓Likely a good fit
Ideal candidates for this study are adults aged 18 and older who have been resuscitated from OHCA of presumed cardiac cause with a shockable first recorded heart rhythm.
✕Probably not a fit
Patients who do not meet the inclusion criteria, such as those with advanced life support termination criteria or known allergies to ketamine or propofol, may not benefit from this study.
A plain-English reading of the study's rules. Only the study team can confirm whether you qualify.
What this trial studies
This clinical trial investigates the use of ketamine as a sedative in patients who have experienced out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA) to determine its neuroprotective effects compared to the standard sedative, propofol. The study focuses on adults who have been resuscitated from OHCA with a shockable heart rhythm and aims to assess the impact of ketamine on neuronal damage markers and long-term neurological outcomes. By evaluating the potential benefits of ketamine in this critical setting, the trial seeks to improve the prognosis for OHCA survivors who are at risk of hypoxic-ischemic brain injury.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this approach could significantly improve neurological outcomes for patients who survive out-of-hospital cardiac arrest.
How similar studies have gone: While the use of ketamine for neuroprotection is promising, this specific approach in the context of OHCA is relatively novel and has not been extensively tested in prior studies.
Who can join: the full rules
Show full inclusion / exclusion criteria
Inclusion Criteria: * Adults (age ≥18 years) AND * resuscitated OHCA of presumed cardiac cause with a shockable first recorded heart rhythm AND * mean arterial pressure (MAP) \>40 mmHg AND * a decision to perform prehospital intubation. Exclusion Criteria: * Advanced life support termination-of-resuscitation (TOR) criteria met * Systolic blood pressure \>190 mmHg * Known allergy to ketamine or propofol * Chronic diseases making 180-day survival unlikely * Body temperature \<30° C.
Where it's running
-
Department of Cardiology, Rigshospitalet
Copenhagen, Denmark Recruiting -
Odense University Hospital
Odense C, Denmark Not yet recruiting
Study contacts
- Study coordinator: Salma Charabi, MD
- Email: salma.charabi@regionh.dk
- Phone: 35450572
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How to take part
- Review the eligibility criteria above with your treating physician.
- Check the official listing on ClinicalTrials.gov for the latest contact details and recruitment status.
- Contact the study coordinator or principal investigator to ask for pre-screening. Pre-screening is free and never obligates you to enroll.