Pediatric patients seldom need medication for the relief of pain. There is widespread ignorance about pain and its refief in childhood. Too many children suffer from pain as a result of medical attitudes to pain reflief, which lead to inadequate and ineffective therapy. There has been an increase in invasive diagnostic, radiologic, and minor surgical procedures on pediatric patients outside the traditional operating room setting. Sedation during such procedures is inadequate and unscientific.
Every child has the fear of needle and injection.
Hence a procedure which starts with a painful intervention is bound to result in heightened anxiety and non-cooperation. Ketamine as a sedative has been in use for short procedures in the operating room. It is an excellent analgesic and amnesic agent. Traditionally it has been used parenterally. However there is no consensus about the dose of ketamine to be administered.