In adult advanced airway (Induction for Airway Control), what is the ketamine dose?

• A. 1 mg/kg
• B. 3 mg/kg
• C. 4 mg/kg
• D. 2 mg/kg

Answer: (D)

For induction for airway control, you want rapid, reliable dissociative anesthesia that preserves spontaneous breathing and provides bronchodilation, making ketamine a good choice in adults. The dose that achieves this balance is about 2 mg/kg given intravenously. This depth is typically enough to facilitate airway manipulation quickly, with onset in seconds to about a minute and a duration long enough for the airway procedure. A smaller dose like 1 mg/kg can be insufficient for controlled induction, risking movement or inadequate sedation. A much larger dose like 3–4 mg/kg increases the chance of deeper anesthesia and longer recovery, which can complicate airway management and increase side effects. So, 2 mg/kg is the optimal choice for this scenario.