Pilot Study of Ketamine Sedation for Aneurysmal Subarachnoid Hemorrhage (PENDULUM)
Subarachnoid Hemorrhage, Aneurysmal
About this trial
This is an interventional prevention trial for Subarachnoid Hemorrhage, Aneurysmal focused on measuring Ketamine, Vasospasm, Ischemic stroke, Delayed cerebral ischemia, Delayed neurological deficits, Cortical spreading depolarization
Eligibility Criteria
Inclusion Criteria:
- Male or female 18 to 80 years old
- Diagnosis of ruptured saccular aneurysm confirmed by cerebral angiography or computed tomography angiography (CTA)
- Aneurysm securement via open neurosurgical clipping or endovascular coiling
- Modified fisher grade 3 or 4 on admission cranial computed tomography scan
- External ventricular drain placed as part of routine care
- Mechanical ventilation requiring sedation
- Ability to enroll within 72h following bleed
- Informed consent
Exclusion Criteria:
- Subarachnoid hemorrhage due to causes other than a saccular aneurysm (e.g. non-aneurysmal, traumatic, rupture of a fusiform or mycotic aneurysm)
- Pregnancy or currently breast-feeding an infant
- Forensic patient
- Known significant baseline neurologic deficit
- Glasgow coma scale 3 with fixed and dilated pupils or other signs of imminent death
- Increased intracranial pressure >30mmHg in sedated patients lasting >4 hours anytime since the initial bleed
- Presence of systemic or CNS infection
- Cardiopulmonary resuscitation after the initial bleed
- Angiographic vasospasm prior to aneurysm repair, as documented by cerebral angiography or CTA
- Surgical complication including but not limited to massive intraoperative hemorrhage, vascular occlusion, or inability to secure the ruptured aneurysm
- Severe coronary artery disease (e.g. obstructive disease with stenosis >50% of any vessel on coronary angiography), angina, symptoms or evidence of myocardial ischemia, myocardial infarction within 3 months of study enrollment
- Heart failure or cardiomyopathy with ejection fracture <35%, symptoms or evidence of decompensated heart failure on admission or within preceding 6 months
- Tachyarrhythmia (e.g. history or evidence of any symptomatic ventricular tachycardia, ventricular fibrillation, atrial fibrillation or flutter with rapid ventricular rate, or any supraventricular tachycardia)
- Active psychotic symptoms, history of primary psychotic disorder (e.g. schizophrenia or schizoaffective disorder), or mania
- History of ketamine dependence or abuse
- Hypersensitivity to ketamine or any component of the formulation
- Increased intraocular pressure or history of glaucoma
- Known or suspected cirrhosis or evidence of moderate-severe liver dysfunction on laboratory evaluation (e.g. ALT and AST>3x upper limit of normal, alkaline phosphatase and gamma-glutamyl transferase>2.5x upper limit of normal, and/or bilirubin>1.5x upper limit of normal)
- Severe kidney disease (e.g. plasma creatinine ≥2.5 mg/dL)
Sites / Locations
Arms of the Study
Arm 1
Arm 2
Experimental
Active Comparator
Ketamine
Standard of Care
Intravenous ketamine will be initiated following aneurysm securement at 0.5mg/kg/h and will be titratable by 0.2mg/kg/h every 20min to a Richmond Agitation Sedation Scale (RASS) goal of 0 to -1 (or as otherwise clinically indicated). Ketamine boluses will be available at 0.5mg/kg every 1hr as needed for inadequate sedation or breakthrough agitation. An additional 0.5mg/kg bolus may be utilized prior to initiating the ketamine infusion, or as needed at the discretion of the clinician. The maximum ketamine infusion dose will be limited to 4mg/kg/h. A fixed-dose propofol infusion at 10mcg/kg/min will simultaneously be administered to minimize the potential psychomimetic side effects of ketamine. This sedation paradigm will continue for up to 10 days post-bleed or until the study participant no longer requires sedation, whichever occurs earlier. If the RASS goal is not met with this sedation regimen, additional agents will be at the discretion of the intensivist.
Intravenous titratable propofol will be initiated as needed per current standard of care, which generally consists of initiating the infusion at 10-20mcg/kg/min with titration parameters of 5-10mcg/kg/min every 5-10min for a RASS goal of 0 to -1 (or as otherwise clinically indicated). Propofol boluses are available at 10-20mg (or higher dosages if clinically required) every 15min as needed for inadequate sedation or breakthrough agitation. The maximum infusion dose is generally limited to 50mcg/kg/min. If the RASS goal is not met with this sedation regimen, additional agents will be at the discretion of the intensivist.