CClinicalTrials.gg
CompletedNCT03554915Updated Apr 5, 2019

Ketamine Versus Midazolam for Prehospital Agitation

An observational study in Agitation, sponsored by Hennepin Healthcare Research Institute. Completed at 1 site in United States. Open to participants aged 18 Years and older. Per ClinicalTrials.gov, last updated 2019-04-05.

Sponsored by Hennepin Healthcare Research Institute · Observational

Study type
Observational
Model
Cohort
Time perspective
Prospective
Enrollment
314
Ages
18 Years and older
Sex
All
01

Study summary

This research study is being done to figure out the best approach to treatment of pre-hospital agitation. It will compare two tiered dosing treatment protocols, one ketamine-based and one midazolam-based. Agitation is a state of extreme emotional disturbance where patients can become physically aggressive or violent, endangering themselves and those who are caring for them. Often chemical substances or severe mental illness are involved in this level of agitation. Specifically, the investigators are interested in studying agitation that is treated in the prehospital setting by paramedics. This study's hypothesis is a ketamine-based protocol will achieve a faster time to adequate sedation than a midazolam-based protocol for treatment of agitation in the prehospital environment. This study will observe the natural history of an emergency medical services standard operating procedure change from a ketamine-based protocol to a midazolam-based protocol.

02

Conditions studied

  • Agitation

Browse trials for

Keywords

  • Agitation, Ketamine, Midazolam, Emergency Medical Services
03

In context

Psychomotor Agitation

500 studies on the registry are indexed under Psychomotor Agitation; 55 are open to participants now.

This study's enrollment of 314 is above the median of 154 across 71 observational studies indexed under Psychomotor Agitation.

Browse Psychomotor Agitation studies →

Lead sponsor

Hennepin Healthcare Research Institute is the lead sponsor of 69 studies on the registry; 4 are open to participants now.

Counted across the registry records on this site, refreshed daily.

04

Who can participate

Ages eligible
18 Years and older
Sexes eligible
All
Accepts healthy volunteers
No
Sampling method
Non-probability sample

Study population

The study population is all patients over age 18 requiring chemical sedation for transport to the emergency department. Etiologies for agitation may include mental illness, substance abuse, critical illness or undetermined.

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

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
05

Study design

Observational model
Cohort
Time perspective
Prospective
Enrollment
314 participants (actual)
Patient registry
No

Groups and cohorts

  • 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.

    Other: Ketamine-based protocol

  • 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.

    Other: Midazolam-based protocol

Interventions

  • OtherKetamine-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.

  • OtherMidazolam-based protocol

    For profoundly agitated patients, intramuscular midazolam 15 mg will be administered. For severely agitated patients, intramuscular midazolam 5 mg will be administered.

06

What researchers measure

Primary outcomes

  1. Time from injection of drug to adequate sedation, defined as a score of +1 or less on the AMSS

    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.

    Time frame: 2 hours

Secondary outcomes

  1. Number of participants intubated

    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.

    Time frame: 2 hours

  2. Number of participants experiencing hypersalivation

    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.

    Time frame: 2 hours

  3. Number of participants experiencing apnea

    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.

    Time frame: 2 hours

  4. Number of participants experiencing nausea/vomiting

    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

    Time frame: 2 hours

  5. Number of participants experiencing laryngospasm

    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.

    Time frame: 2 hours

  6. Number of participants needing rescue sedation

    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.

    Time frame: 2 hours

07

Study locations

1 site
  • Hennepin County Medical Center
    Minneapolis, Minnesota 55415, United States
08

References and documents

Publications

  • Cole JB, Klein LR, Nystrom PC, Moore JC, Driver BE, Fryza BJ, Harrington J, Ho JD. A prospective study of ketamine as primary therapy for prehospital profound agitation. Am J Emerg Med. 2018 May;36(5):789-796. doi: 10.1016/j.ajem.2017.10.022. Epub 2017 Oct 7. PubMed 29033344 ↗
  • Olives TD, Nystrom PC, Cole JB, Dodd KW, Ho JD. Intubation of Profoundly Agitated Patients Treated with Prehospital Ketamine. Prehosp Disaster Med. 2016 Dec;31(6):593-602. doi: 10.1017/S1049023X16000819. Epub 2016 Sep 19. PubMed 27640730 ↗
  • Cole JB, Moore JC, Nystrom PC, Orozco BS, Stellpflug SJ, Kornas RL, Fryza BJ, Steinberg LW, O'Brien-Lambert A, Bache-Wiig P, Engebretsen KM, Ho JD. A prospective study of ketamine versus haloperidol for severe prehospital agitation. Clin Toxicol (Phila). 2016 Aug;54(7):556-62. doi: 10.1080/15563650.2016.1177652. Epub 2016 Apr 22. PubMed 27102743 ↗
  • Ho JD, Smith SW, Nystrom PC, Dawes DM, Orozco BS, Cole JB, Heegaard WG. Successful management of excited delirium syndrome with prehospital ketamine: two case examples. Prehosp Emerg Care. 2013 Apr-Jun;17(2):274-9. doi: 10.3109/10903127.2012.729129. Epub 2012 Dec 11. PubMed 23231451 ↗
  • TREC Collaborative Group. Rapid tranquillisation for agitated patients in emergency psychiatric rooms: a randomised trial of midazolam versus haloperidol plus promethazine. BMJ. 2003 Sep 27;327(7417):708-13. doi: 10.1136/bmj.327.7417.708. PubMed 14512476 ↗
  • Page CB, Parker LE, Rashford SJ, Bosley E, Isoardi KZ, Williamson FE, Isbister GK. A Prospective Before and After Study of Droperidol for Prehospital Acute Behavioral Disturbance. Prehosp Emerg Care. 2018 Nov-Dec;22(6):713-721. doi: 10.1080/10903127.2018.1445329. Epub 2018 Mar 20. PubMed 29558224 ↗
  • Isbister GK, Calver LA, Page CB, Stokes B, Bryant JL, Downes MA. Randomized controlled trial of intramuscular droperidol versus midazolam for violence and acute behavioral disturbance: the DORM study. Ann Emerg Med. 2010 Oct;56(4):392-401.e1. doi: 10.1016/j.annemergmed.2010.05.037. PubMed 20868907 ↗
  • Scaggs TR, Glass DM, Hutchcraft MG, Weir WB. Prehospital Ketamine is a Safe and Effective Treatment for Excited Delirium in a Community Hospital Based EMS System. Prehosp Disaster Med. 2016 Oct;31(5):563-9. doi: 10.1017/S1049023X16000662. Epub 2016 Aug 12. PubMed 27517801 ↗
  • Martel M, Miner J, Fringer R, Sufka K, Miamen A, Ho J, Clinton J, Biros M. Discontinuation of droperidol for the control of acutely agitated out-of-hospital patients. Prehosp Emerg Care. 2005 Jan-Mar;9(1):44-8. doi: 10.1080/10903120590891723. PubMed 16036827 ↗
  • Keseg D, Cortez E, Rund D, Caterino J. The Use of Prehospital Ketamine for Control of Agitation in a Metropolitan Firefighter-based EMS System. Prehosp Emerg Care. 2015 January-March;19(1):110-115. doi: 10.3109/10903127.2014.942478. Epub 2014 Aug 25. PubMed 25153713 ↗
  • Hollis GJ, Keene TM, Ardlie RM, Caldicott DG, Stapleton SG. Prehospital ketamine use by paramedics in the Australian Capital Territory: A 12 month retrospective analysis. Emerg Med Australas. 2017 Feb;29(1):89-95. doi: 10.1111/1742-6723.12685. Epub 2016 Oct 3. PubMed 27699989 ↗
  • Isenberg DL, Jacobs D. Prehospital Agitation and Sedation Trial (PhAST): A Randomized Control Trial of Intramuscular Haloperidol versus Intramuscular Midazolam for the Sedation of the Agitated or Violent Patient in the Prehospital Environment. Prehosp Disaster Med. 2015 Oct;30(5):491-5. doi: 10.1017/S1049023X15004999. Epub 2015 Sep 1. PubMed 26323511 ↗
  • Scheppke KA, Braghiroli J, Shalaby M, Chait R. Prehospital use of i.m. ketamine for sedation of violent and agitated patients. West J Emerg Med. 2014 Nov;15(7):736-41. doi: 10.5811/westjem.2014.9.23229. Epub 2014 Nov 11. PubMed 25493111 ↗
  • Cole JB, Driver BE, Klein LR, Moore JC, Nystrom PC, Ho JD. In reply: Ketamine is an important therapy for prehospital agitation - Its exact role and side effect profile are still undefined. Am J Emerg Med. 2018 Mar;36(3):502-503. doi: 10.1016/j.ajem.2017.12.014. Epub 2017 Dec 7. No abstract available. PubMed 29229535 ↗
  • Linder LM, Ross CA, Weant KA. Ketamine for the Acute Management of Excited Delirium and Agitation in the Prehospital Setting. Pharmacotherapy. 2018 Jan;38(1):139-151. doi: 10.1002/phar.2060. Epub 2017 Dec 22. PubMed 29136301 ↗
  • Parsch CS, Boonstra A, Teubner D, Emmerton W, McKenny B, Ellis DY. Ketamine reduces the need for intubation in patients with acute severe mental illness and agitation requiring transport to definitive care: An observational study. Emerg Med Australas. 2017 Jun;29(3):291-296. doi: 10.1111/1742-6723.12763. Epub 2017 Mar 20. PubMed 28320079 ↗
  • Miner JR. Ketamine is a good first-line option for severely agitated patients in the prehospital environment. Am J Emerg Med. 2018 Mar;36(3):501-502. doi: 10.1016/j.ajem.2017.12.015. Epub 2017 Dec 7. No abstract available. PubMed 29329930 ↗
  • Buckland DM, Crowe RP, Cash RE, Gondek S, Maluso P, Sirajuddin S, Smith ER, Dangerfield P, Shapiro G, Wanka C, Panchal AR, Sarani B. Ketamine in the Prehospital Environment: A National Survey of Paramedics in the United States. Prehosp Disaster Med. 2018 Feb;33(1):23-28. doi: 10.1017/S1049023X17007142. Epub 2017 Dec 21. PubMed 29265995 ↗
  • Gonin P, Beysard N, Yersin B, Carron PN. Excited Delirium: A Systematic Review. Acad Emerg Med. 2018 May;25(5):552-565. doi: 10.1111/acem.13330. Epub 2017 Nov 27. PubMed 28990246 ↗
  • Melamed E, Oron Y, Ben-Avraham R, Blumenfeld A, Lin G. The combative multitrauma patient: a protocol for prehospital management. Eur J Emerg Med. 2007 Oct;14(5):265-8. doi: 10.1097/MEJ.0b013e32823a3c9b. PubMed 17823561 ↗
  • Cong ML, Humble I. A Ketamine Protocol and Intubation Rates for Psychiatric Air Medical Retrieval. Air Med J. 2015 Nov-Dec;34(6):357-9. doi: 10.1016/j.amj.2015.07.007. PubMed 26611223 ↗
  • Hick JL, Ho JD. Ketamine chemical restraint to facilitate rescue of a combative "jumper". Prehosp Emerg Care. 2005 Jan-Mar;9(1):85-9. doi: 10.1080/10903120590891859. No abstract available. PubMed 16036834 ↗
  • Burnett AM, Peterson BK, Stellpflug SJ, Engebretsen KM, Glasrud KJ, Marks J, Frascone RJ. The association between ketamine given for prehospital chemical restraint with intubation and hospital admission. Am J Emerg Med. 2015 Jan;33(1):76-9. doi: 10.1016/j.ajem.2014.10.016. Epub 2014 Oct 22. PubMed 25455046 ↗
  • Martel M, Sterzinger A, Miner J, Clinton J, Biros M. Management of acute undifferentiated agitation in the emergency department: a randomized double-blind trial of droperidol, ziprasidone, and midazolam. Acad Emerg Med. 2005 Dec;12(12):1167-72. doi: 10.1197/j.aem.2005.07.017. Epub 2005 Nov 10. Erratum In: Acad Emerg Med. 2006 Feb;13(2):233. PubMed 16282517 ↗

Individual participant data

Plan to share: No

09

Updates

Tracking since Sep 25, 2026
No changes since tracking began. The registry record was last updated on Apr 5, 2019, before this site started recording changes on Sep 25, 2026. Its history is on ClinicalTrials.gov ↗
10

Registry details

Key details

Study ID
NCT03554915
Lead sponsor
Hennepin Healthcare Research Institute
Responsible party
Sponsor
First posted
Jun 13, 2018
Start date
Aug 1, 2017
Primary completion
Jun 25, 2018
Completion
Sep 24, 2018
Last update
Apr 5, 2019

Oversight

Data monitoring committee
No
FDA-regulated drug
No
FDA-regulated device
No
View the source record on ClinicalTrials.gov ↗

Not currently enrolling

This study is completed, as verified in Apr 2019. You cannot join it, but the record below documents what was studied.

Follow this study

Get an email when the registry record changes — status, dates, results — or when someone posts here.

Sign in to follow

Discussion

Questions and observations about this study, from anyone following it. Not medical advice, and not a channel to the study team — their contact details are on the registry record.

Sign in to join the discussion. Reading takes no account; posting does. You choose a display name, and a pseudonym is the default.

Nothing here yet. If you are running this trial, taking part in it, or weighing whether to, this is the place to say so.

Start the discussion