Introduction: Ketamine a phencyclidine derivative with potent analgesic properties possesses few advantages over the other local anesthetics as it tends to stimulate the cardiovascular system and maintains the respiratory response to carbon dioxide. Methodology: On the eve of the surgery, all the patients were visited and a detailed examination including history, clinical examination, systemic examination of cardiovascular, respiratory and central nervous system and examination of spine for deformity, infection was carried out. Results: In the present study, the time taken to achieve maximum sensory blockade ranged from 2­8 minutes. In majority of the males (43 patients) it ranged from 4­6, while in females (26 patients) it ranged from 5.1­7 minutes. Conclusion: In the present study, the quality of motor blockade assessed by the Bromage scale was grade­III in all the patients.

Keywords: Ketamine; Spianal anaesthesia; Efficacy