Ketamine is a drug often used for pediatric procedural sedation. Its pharmacologic safety profile is very wide, allowing a wide spectrum of dosing with a significantly reduced risk of apnea when compared to propofol. Known adverse effects of the drug include its emergence profile which may be accompanied by hallucinations, bronchorrhea and laryngospasm. Hallucinations may be prevented by using benzodiazepines concurrently and are possibly more pronounced in teenaged children compared to infants, although post-sedation irritability in the latter group might be an expression of this. Bronchorrhea, while usually not of significant concern during procedural sedation, has the potential to play a more noteworthy role during bronchoscopy. Significant airway secretions can create a difficult working environment for the pulmonologist performing the procedure. Patient safety may also be affected, as increased airway secretions reduce visibility in pediatric airways that are narrow to begin with and further compromised by placement of the bronchoscope. Potentially, this might also impact on the child's air flow and gas exchange. Laryngospasm during the procedure potentially hinders passage of the scope beyond the vocal cords and might extend the duration of the procedure.