Ep. 514 Deep Sedation in IR: Intro to Ketamine with Dr. Amy Deipolyi
Feb 4, 2025
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Dr. Amy Deipolyi, an interventional radiologist and Division Chief at Charleston Area Medical Center, shares her innovative approach to deep sedation using ketamine. She discusses the challenges of scheduling anesthesia in the IR suite and how she gained support for this shift. The conversation reveals the comparative advantages of ketamine over traditional sedatives, its role in improving patient experiences, and overcoming regional healthcare hurdles. Dr. Deipolyi also offers practical insights for IR professionals looking to implement similar sedation techniques.
Ketamine provides a safer alternative for deep sedation in interventional radiology, particularly benefiting patients with low blood pressure from traditional sedatives.
The establishment of the dedicated IR program at Charleston Area Medical Center showcases the importance of collaboration in overcoming institutional barriers to enhance cancer care access.
Deep dives
Introduction of Backtable Tumor Board
A new podcast series, Backtable Tumor Board, will launch in January 2025, focusing on multidisciplinary approaches to cancer care. The series aims to gather leading experts from various specialties to discuss innovative treatments, clinical challenges, and insights into hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), a significant global health issue. Each episode is designed to present real-world case discussions and tumor board simulations led by hepatologists, oncologists, interventional oncologists, and hepatobiliary surgeons. The show will be freely accessible on platforms like Spotify and Apple Podcasts to benefit medical professionals and improve liver cancer care.
Ketamine as a Procedural Sedation Tool
Ketamine is highlighted as a valuable agent for deep sedation during interventional radiology (IR) procedures, offering benefits over traditional sedatives like fentanyl and Versed. Unlike opioids, ketamine does not depress respiration, making it safer for patients with low blood pressure, particularly those in palliative care. Its unique properties allow patients to remain unaware and forget the procedure while also potentially enhancing their mood and reducing chronic pain. The use of ketamine has transformed the patient experience, making procedures less traumatic and more comfortable.
Building a Dedicated IR Program
The establishment of a dedicated interventional radiology (IR) program at the Charleston Area Medical Center has been pivotal in expanding cancer care access in West Virginia. The program, initiated by Dr. Amy Diapoli, faced initial challenges due to the lack of resources and staff but has since grown to include multiple rooms and a procedural recovery suite. Collaboration with anesthesiology and a strong support network among colleagues facilitated the program's development, allowing for service expansions such as ablation and Y90 treatments. The community's appreciation of the newly available IR procedures has been a rewarding aspect for the working team.
Enhancing Patient Care through Collaboration
The success of integrating ketamine for sedation in IR procedures underscores the importance of collaboration among medical professionals. Dr. Diapoli's experience shows how engaging with anesthesiologists and ER physicians can help overcome institutional barriers to implementing new practices. The addition of ketamine not only improved patient outcomes but also led to a culture shift in managing procedural sedation, reflecting a growing acknowledgment of the need for patient comfort. The project included quality improvement measures, demonstrating that changes in sedation practices can lead to reduced pain scores and increased patient satisfaction.
When deep sedation is required, it can be challenging to implement due to the difficulty of scheduling dedicated anesthesia coverage in the IR suite. Dr. Amy Deipolyi (interventional radiologist and Division Chief at Charleston Area Medical Center, WY) joins host Dr. Ally Baheti to explain an alternative approach to deep sedation through the use of ketamine.
Dr. Deipolyi begins by sharing how she built a dedicated, academic IR program at a level 1 trauma center in West Virginia. The doctors then discuss the advantages of ketamine for deep sedation in the IR suite, and how Dr. Deipolyi gained administrative approval and implemented the change to achieve an alternative approach to deep sedation for interventional procedures. The discussion also includes how ketamine compares to traditional agents such as fentanyl and Versed. The episode concludes with Dr. Deipolyi’s practical advice to fellow IR’s interested in providing their patients deep sedation via ketamine and her ongoing and future research and outreach efforts.
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TIMESTAMPS
00:00 - Introduction
02:04 - Dr. Deipolyi’s Practice
14:32 - Overcoming Hurdles and Gaining Support
20:12 - Application and Patient Experiences
26:01 - Future of Deep Sedation in IR
28:55 - Conclusion
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