Ketofol: An Anesthetic Combination Tailored for Trauma Patients

   

Mohamed Almurtada Ali^*

Clinical MD in Anesthesia and Intensive Care

Citation: Ali MA. Ketofol: An Anesthetic Combination Tailored for Trauma Patients Genesis J Surg Med. 4(1):1-2.

Received: June 11, 2025 | Published:  June 16, 2025

Copyright^© 2022 by  Ali MA. All rights reserved. This is an open access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited.

DOI: https://doi.org/10.52793/GJSM.2025.4(1)-34

Introduction

Trauma remains one of the leading causes of morbidity and mortality worldwide, often presenting unique challenges to anesthesiologists due to hemodynamic instability, altered physiology, and the need for rapid airway control. The choice of induction agents in such critical situations is of paramount importance, as many traditional anesthetics can exacerbate hypotension or suppress respiratory function.

In recent years, "Ketofol", a combination of ketamine and propofol, has emerged as a highly promising agent for trauma anesthesia. The rationale behind this admixture lies in the pharmacodynamic synergy between the two drugs: ketamine, a dissociative anesthetic with sympathomimetic properties, counters the cardiovascular depressant effects of propofol. Meanwhile, propofols sedative and antiemetic profile tempers the psychomimetic and excessive salivation effects of ketamine. This pharmacologic balance translates into a stable hemodynamic profile during induction, making ketofol particularly suitable for use in trauma patients with tenuous physiology.

Several clinical studies have demonstrated that ketofol provides effective sedation and analgesia while maintaining airway reflexes and respiratory drive more reliably than propofol alone. Its utility in both emergency departments and operating rooms has been supported by evidence indicating reduced incidence of hypotension, better patient tolerance, and more favorable recovery profiles. Moreover, ketofols simplicity of preparation and cost-effectiveness make it an attractive option, particularly in low-resource settings and during mass casualty scenarios.

In the context of trauma care, where every second counts and physiologic reserves may be minimal, ketofol offers anesthesiologists a practical, evidence-based, and safe solution. Its balanced pharmacological profile ensures that induction and maintenance of anesthesia can be achieved without compromising the patients cardiovascular stability a crucial advantage when managing polytrauma or hypovolemic patients.

As our understanding of multimodal anesthesia deepens, the growing use of ketofol reflects a broader shift toward personalized, physiology-preserving anesthetic strategies. Continued research into optimal dosing, long-term outcomes, and potential applications in specific trauma subgroups will further define ketofols role in modern trauma anesthesia.

It is my hope that the readers of Genesis Journal of Surgery and Medicine will find this topic thought-provoking and relevant to both clinical practice and future research. I look forward to contributing further to this vital discourse and to supporting the journals mission of advancing safe, evidence-based surgical and perioperative care.

References

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