The Korean Journal of Pain  2006;19(2):233-236

doi:10.3344/kjp.2006.19.2.233

The Trial of Continuous Intravenous Infusion of Ketamine in Patients with Phantom Limb Pain: A case report.

Yong Kwan CHEONG 1 ; Cheol LEE ; Yong SON ; Yoon Kang SONG ; Tai Yo KIM ; Seung Woo LEE

Affiliations

+expand

Keywords

ketamine; opioid; phantom limb pain

Country

Republic of Korea

Language

Korean

Abstract

Phantom limb pain is a painful sensation from an absent limb. The onset of pain is generally early, with 75% of patients developing pain within the first few days after amputation. The frequency and duration of attacks tend to be reduced with time, although the prevalence and intensity remain constant. We report here a case of a 38-year-old man who exhibited the signs and symptoms of phantom limb pain due to the above-knee amputations of both legs. He was not responded to opioid therapy and a continuous intravenous infusion of ketamine, an N-methyl-D-aspatate receptor antagonist, reduced his severe pain.