The Effect of Ketamine on the Functional Residual Capacity in Young Children

Abstract
The effect of ketamine on the functional residual capacity (FRC) was measured in 9 ASA [American Society of Anesthesiologists] class I children prior to elective surgery. FRC was determined by the closed-circuit helium dilution method on the day prior to surgery in the awake state and also following induction of anesthesia on the day of the operation. Anesthesia consisted of ketamine by continuous i.v. infusion following preanesthetic sedation with atropine and triclofos between the measurements in the awake state and anesthetized (392 .+-. 43 SE ml, and 411 .+-. 53 SE ml, respectively), and the ketamine does not affect resting lung volume in young children.