Using ketamine for sedation to protect the brain after cardiac arrest
KETamine Sedation As Neuroprotective Agent Following Out-of-hospital Cardiac Arrest (OHCA) - the KETOHCA Trial
PHASE2 · Rigshospitalet, Denmark · NCT06744361
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 | PHASE2 |
|---|---|
| Study type | Interventional |
| Enrollment | 282 (estimated) |
| Ages | 18 Years and up |
| Sex | All |
| Sponsor | Rigshospitalet, Denmark (other) |
| Locations | 2 sites (Copenhagen and 1 other locations) |
| Trial ID | NCT06744361 on ClinicalTrials.gov |
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.
Who should consider this trial
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.
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.
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 performed: 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.
Eligibility criteria
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 this trial is running
Copenhagen and 1 other locations
- 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
How to participate
- Review the eligibility criteria above with your treating physician.
- Visit the official trial page on ClinicalTrials.gov for the most current contact information and recruitment status.
- Contact the listed study coordinator or principal investigator to request pre-screening. Pre-screening is free and never obligates you to enroll.
Conditions: Out-of-hospital Cardiac Arrest