What is ketamine primarily used for in anesthesia?

Ketamine is primarily utilized in anesthesia as a dissociative anesthetic for induction and maintenance of anesthesia. It has unique properties that allow it to induce a trance-like state while providing analgesia, amnesia, and sedation. This makes it particularly useful for certain surgical procedures, especially in patients where other anesthetics may not be suitable.

Ketamine works by blocking NMDA receptors in the brain, leading to its dissociative effects. This is in contrast to other anesthetics that may primarily induce general anesthesia by different mechanisms. The versatility of ketamine allows it to be used in various settings, including emergency medicine and for patients with hemodynamic instability, where traditional anesthetics could exacerbate cardiovascular issues.

While ketamine does have analgesic properties, its primary role within the context of anesthesia is in inducing and maintaining a dissociative state during procedures, making option B the most accurate choice.