Ketamine (Noun)
Meaning
A general anesthetic and tranquilizer (not a barbiturate) that is administered intravenously or intramuscularly; used mainly by veterinarians or for minor surgery with geriatric or pediatric patients; taken in large doses it causes hallucinations similar to those associated with the use of PCP.
Classification
Nouns denoting man-made objects.
Examples
- Ketamine is often used by veterinarians to anesthetize animals undergoing minor surgical procedures.
- The anesthesiologist administered ketamine to the elderly patient before performing the cataract surgery.
- Ketamine's tranquilizing properties made it an ideal choice for sedating agitated patients in emergency situations.
- In large doses, ketamine can cause intense hallucinations and disorientation similar to those experienced with PCP use.
- The pediatrician chose ketamine as a general anesthetic for the young patient undergoing a minor operation.