The Effect of Intraoperative Ketamine on Opioid Consumption and Pain After Spine Surgery in Opioid-dependent Patients

Patients with a daily use of opioids may develop higher postoperative pain levels, often need high doses of morphine and therefore their pain may be difficult to treat. A low dose of an old anesthetic drug, ketamine, administered during surgery can possibly reduce pain and morphine consumption in these patients. Our purpose is to investigate the effect of low dose ketamine on morphine consumption and pain after spine surgery in patients with a daily use of opioids. Our hypothesis is that low dose ketamine can reduce morphine consumption, pain and side-effects after spine surgery.