ASA members discuss ketamine's use in cosmetic surgery in Allure

In the article, BobbieJean Sweitzer, MD, FASA, a member of ASA’s Committee on Ambulatory Surgical Care, and Dan Ellis, MD, discussed the use of ketamine as a sedative in cosmetic procedures. "With cosmetic surgery, we usually supplement oxygen for patients, and if you're operating on someone's nose or face, we can't give them the usual kind of nasal cannula or a face mask to deliver oxygen," explained Dr. Sweitzer. "Ketamine is unique amongst anesthetics in that it actually doesn't depress ventilation to the same degree that others do. You can attain a much deeper state of anesthesia without the respiratory depression."