Ro21-3981/ketamine anesthesia for the treatment of poor risk patients.

Two consecutive anesthetics were given to a young severely debilitated patient, who had recently had bone marrow transplantation. On both occasions a combination of a new benzodiazepine, Ro21-3981, and ketamine was used, the first with the patient breathing oxygen spontaneously, and the second under relaxation and artificial ventilation with pure oxygen. The findings suggest that this technique provides cardiovascular stability during anesthesia and rapid return to consciousness, free from emergence phenomena. The technique facilitated the early transport of the patient away from the recovery facilities.