A total of 67 Nigerians aged 6–43 years had ton-sillectomy using ketamine hydrochloride as the sole anaesthetic agent. The patients were not intubated. Pharyngeal movement and laryngospasm were effectively eliminated with preoperative lignocaine (Xylocaine) spray.
The recovery period was prolonged. Pulse and blood pressure were elevated by 10–20% in all the patients for up to 10 hours. But there was no chest complication.
It is concluded that ketamine hydrochloride is a safe alternative to endotracheal anaesthesia for ton-sillectomy when the latter is not available.
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