Anaesthesia for dilatation, evacuation and curettage in outpatients: comparison of subanaesthetic doses of ketamine and sodium methohexitone-nitrous oxide anaesthesia.

Sub-dissociative doses of ketamine compared unfavourably with methohexitonenitrous oxide anaesthesia for dilatation, evacuation and curettage. We could not separate the desirable effects of analgesia and amnesia from the unwanted dream effects and visual disturbances. Although the time of clinical recovery was similar, the Trieger Motor Test revealed a delay in return to normal in both groups.