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Ketamine appears to be the answer to the definite need for a safe and potent intravenously administered anesthetic of short duration for pediatric populations. Ketamine combines analgesic and sleep-producing effects without significant cardiovascular and respiratory depression. Even if the most serious untoward actions occur (eg. hallucinatory emergence phenomena which are unusual in children) can be minimized by exercising "skillful neglect" (ie, permit the patient to awaken in his own time) in reviving the patient, these appear to be small prices to pay for the benefits derived from this anesthetic.