Ketamine Versus Midazolam for Prehospital Agitation
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The safety and scientific validity of this study is the responsibility of the study sponsor and investigators. Listing a study does not mean it has been evaluated by the U.S. Federal Government. Read our disclaimer for details. |
ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT03554915 |
Recruitment Status :
Completed
First Posted : June 13, 2018
Last Update Posted : April 5, 2019
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Condition or disease | Intervention/treatment |
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Agitation | Other: Ketamine-based protocol Other: Midazolam-based protocol |
Study Type : | Observational |
Actual Enrollment : | 314 participants |
Observational Model: | Cohort |
Time Perspective: | Prospective |
Official Title: | Ketamine Versus Midazolam for Prehospital Agitation |
Actual Study Start Date : | August 1, 2017 |
Actual Primary Completion Date : | June 25, 2018 |
Actual Study Completion Date : | September 24, 2018 |

Group/Cohort | Intervention/treatment |
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Ketamine-based Protocol
The first 6 month period of the study will employ a ketamine-based protocol for prehospital agitation. There will be a tiered dosing protocol based on degree of agitation.
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Other: Ketamine-based protocol
For profoundly agitated (physically violent) patients, intramuscular ketamine 5 mg/kg will be administered first line. For severely agitated patients, intramuscular ketamine 3 mg/kg will be administered first line. |
Midazolam-based Protocol
The second 6 month period of the study will employ a midazolam-based protocol for prehospital agitation. There will again be a tiered dosing protocol based on degree of agitation.
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Other: Midazolam-based protocol
For profoundly agitated patients, intramuscular midazolam 15 mg will be administered. For severely agitated patients, intramuscular midazolam 5 mg will be administered. |
- Time from injection of drug to adequate sedation, defined as a score of +1 or less on the AMSS [ Time Frame: 2 hours ]
The Altered Mental Status Scale (AMSS) is an integral ordinal scale evaluating both agitation and sedation with scores from -4 to +4. It was developed at our institution and has been internally and externally validated. This scale is a modified version of the Behavioral Activity Rating Scale with additional data points from the Observer's Assessment of Alertness Scale. Effectiveness of sedation will be defined as an AMSS score less than or equal to +1.
AMSS will be determined by the treating paramedic, who will undergo training as a research associate prior to commencement of the study. Participants will be followed for the duration of agitation, an expected average of 2 hours.
- Number of participants intubated [ Time Frame: 2 hours ]Participants will be followed for the duration of agitation, an expected average of 2 hours. Enrolling paramedics or research associates in the Emergency Department will record if the patient is intubated.
- Number of participants experiencing hypersalivation [ Time Frame: 2 hours ]Participants will be followed for the duration of agitation, an expected average of 2 hours. Enrolling paramedics or research associates in the Emergency Department will record if the patient experiences hypersalivation.
- Number of participants experiencing apnea [ Time Frame: 2 hours ]Participants will be followed for the duration of agitation, an expected average of 2 hours. Enrolling paramedics or research associates in the Emergency Department will record if the patient experiences apnea, defined as 6 seconds of absent EtCO2 waveform.
- Number of participants experiencing nausea/vomiting [ Time Frame: 2 hours ]Participants will be followed for the duration of agitation, an expected average of 2 hours. Enrolling paramedics or research associates in the Emergency Department will record if the patient experiences nausea/vomiting
- Number of participants experiencing laryngospasm [ Time Frame: 2 hours ]Participants will be followed for the duration of agitation, an expected average of 2 hours. Enrolling paramedics or research associates in the Emergency Department will record if laryngospasm occurs.
- Number of participants needing rescue sedation [ Time Frame: 2 hours ]Participants will be followed for the duration of agitation, an expected average of 2 hours. Enrolling paramedics or research associates in the Emergency Department will record if additional sedatives are needed in the prehospital or ED environment.

Choosing to participate in a study is an important personal decision. Talk with your doctor and family members or friends about deciding to join a study. To learn more about this study, you or your doctor may contact the study research staff using the contacts provided below. For general information, Learn About Clinical Studies.
Ages Eligible for Study: | 18 Years and older (Adult, Older Adult) |
Sexes Eligible for Study: | All |
Accepts Healthy Volunteers: | No |
Sampling Method: | Non-Probability Sample |
Inclusion Criteria:
- Age 18 or older
- Severe agitation (AMSS +2 or +3) or profound agitation (AMSS +4) requiring chemical sedation
- Transport to Hennepin County Medical Center
Exclusion Criteria:
- Obviously gravid women
- Patients known or suspected to be less than 18 years of age
- Patients in which stopwatch activation, for safety reasons, is unable to occur

To learn more about this study, you or your doctor may contact the study research staff using the contact information provided by the sponsor.
Please refer to this study by its ClinicalTrials.gov identifier (NCT number): NCT03554915
United States, Minnesota | |
Hennepin County Medical Center | |
Minneapolis, Minnesota, United States, 55415 |
Responsible Party: | Hennepin Healthcare Research Institute |
ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: | NCT03554915 |
Other Study ID Numbers: |
HSR #17-4306 |
First Posted: | June 13, 2018 Key Record Dates |
Last Update Posted: | April 5, 2019 |
Last Verified: | April 2019 |
Individual Participant Data (IPD) Sharing Statement: | |
Plan to Share IPD: | No |
Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated Drug Product: | No |
Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated Device Product: | No |
Agitation, Ketamine, Midazolam, Emergency Medical Services |
Psychomotor Agitation Dyskinesias Neurologic Manifestations Nervous System Diseases Psychomotor Disorders Neurobehavioral Manifestations Midazolam Ketamine Analgesics Sensory System Agents Peripheral Nervous System Agents Physiological Effects of Drugs Anesthetics, Dissociative Anesthetics, Intravenous |
Anesthetics, General Anesthetics Central Nervous System Depressants Excitatory Amino Acid Antagonists Excitatory Amino Acid Agents Neurotransmitter Agents Molecular Mechanisms of Pharmacological Action Adjuvants, Anesthesia Hypnotics and Sedatives Anti-Anxiety Agents Tranquilizing Agents Psychotropic Drugs GABA Modulators GABA Agents |