Clinical trial Recruiting at 1 site Phase 2 Interventional Ages 18 and up

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.

More Out-of-hospital Cardiac Arrest (OHCA) trials

Quick facts

PhasePhase 2
Study typeInterventional
Ages18 Years and up
SexAll
Enrollment282 (estimated)
SponsorCopenhagen University Hospital, Rigshospitalet
Academic / other
Locations2 sites (Copenhagen and 1 other locations)
StatusRecruiting
StartedDecember 12, 2024
Main results expectedSeptember 1, 2027
Study endsSeptember 1, 2027
Registry record updatedDecember 20, 2024
Trial IDNCT06744361 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

Similar studies

Other studies for the same condition or treatment. Recruiting studies are listed first.

How to take part

  1. Review the eligibility criteria above with your treating physician.
  2. Check the official listing on ClinicalTrials.gov for the latest contact details and recruitment status.
  3. Contact the study coordinator or principal investigator to ask for pre-screening. Pre-screening is free and never obligates you to enroll.
Last reviewed 2026-11-14 by the Find a Trial editorial team. Information on this page is for educational purposes and is not medical advice. Always consult qualified healthcare professionals about clinical trial participation.