Waivered Ketamine Use in Colorado,

2018-2020
For and Released To:
Michael deYoanna, KUNC

Source: Scope of Practice Waiver Reporting

Dates: 1/1/2018-6/30/2020
EMS Scope of Practice Waiver Reporting for Excited Delirium and/or Extreme or Profound Agitation Ketamine Administrations [1]
2018 (1/1/2018-12/31/2018) Count of Waivered Ketamine Incidents Reported 265
Incidents with any complication reported [Apnea=3, Cardiac Arrest=0, Hypoxia=6, Laryngospasm=*,
Hypotension=*, Medication side effects=3, Other=8] 14 (5.28%)

2019 (1/1/2019-12/31/2019) Count of Waivered Ketamine Incidents Reported 457

Incidents with any complication reported [Apnea=16, Bradycardia=*, Cardiac Arrest=*, Hypotension=*,
Hypoxia=75, Laryngospasm=3, Medication side effects=7, Other=34] 110 (24.07%)

2020 (1/1/2020-6/30/2020) Count of Waivered Ketamine Incidents Reported 180

Incidents with any complication reported [Apnea=5, Cardiac Arrest=0, Hypoxia=18, Laryngospasm=*,
Medication side effects=11, Other=3] 29 (16.11%)

Total (All Years) Count of Waivered Ketamine Incidents Reported 902

Total Excited Delirium Ketamine Complications 153 (16.96%)
Total Reported Cardiac Arrests Following Ketamine Administration for Excited Delirium and/or
Extreme or Profound Agitation [2] *

[1]These data reflect self-reported incidents of ketamine administrations from waivered EMS agencies in Colorado. Administration of
ketamine is a waivered act for Paramedics for the following indications: Rapid Sequence Intubation, Pain, and Excited Delirium and/or
Extreme or Profound Agitation, and must be reported to the state's reporting system annually. These data only reflect waivered Ketamine
administrations for Excited Delirium and/or Extreme or Profound Agitation. Ketamine administration falls within EMS Scope of Practice for
Paramedics with a Critical Care Endorsement, and therefore does not require submission of incidents to this dataset.

[2] This report does not link ketamine administration to causation.

* Data with low counts (1 or 2) suppressed to protect patient confidentiality.

Page 1 Prepared by the EMTS Data Section Date of Report: July 1, 2020