BET 2: Safety and efficacy of low-dose ketamine versus opioids for acute pain management in the ED.

A short cut review was carried out to establish whether low-dose ketamine is a safe and effective alternative to opioids in ED patients in acute severe pain. 76 papers were found using the reported searches, of which seven presented the best evidence to answer the clinical question. The author, date and country of publication, patient group studied, study type, relevant outcomes, results and study weaknesses of these papers are tabulated. It is concluded that low-dose ketamine can be an effective and safe alternative to opioids in acute pain management. © Author(s) (or their employer(s)) 2019. No commercial re-use. See rights and permissions. Published by BMJ.