Ketamine During Surgery (IMAGE) Washington University School of Medicine Caption Anesthesiologists routinely give surgery patients low doses of the drug ketamine to blunt postoperative pain and reduce the need for opioid drugs. Recent research even has suggested ketamine might protect older patients from postsurgical delirium and confusion. But an international, multicenter trial has found that ketamine does neither. Credit Robert Boston Usage Restrictions None License Licensed content Disclaimer: AAAS and EurekAlert! are not responsible for the accuracy of news releases posted to EurekAlert! by contributing institutions or for the use of any information through the EurekAlert system.