Compared to ketamine, benzodiazepines are far more likely to cause respiratory depression and arrest, as well as airway obstruction due to relaxation of muscles and soft tissues in the jaw and neck. I am a retired neurosurgical anesthesiologist (38 years experience) and used ketamine — both IV and IM — hundreds of times in the OR in children and adults.
Well you obviously know more than I do, but I guess my question is - were these kids anesthetized?
If so, I would agree ketamine is much safer. But if you’re just trying to keep them from freaking out, 5mg is diazepam will do the job and respiratory depression isn’t much of an issue.
Yes, the kids in the cave were anesthetized. Diazepam is NOT an anesthetic: it is an anxiolytic/hypnotic/sedative. 5mg of diazepam will calm some, put others to sleep, and not noticeably affect others. Variation in response is huge. With ketamine, a given mg/kg dose is far more predictable.
