부산대학교 도서관

Background: Preanaesthetic medication plays an important role in the anaesthetic care of children by allaying anxiety, decreasing vagal stimulation and preventing postoperative psychological sequelae. This study was undertaken to evaluate the efficacy of dexmedetomidine when administered orally as a hypnotic and anxiolytic compared to oral combination ketamine/midazolam as preanaesthetic medication in paediatric patients. Methods: Sixty-six children aged 2-6 years posted for elective surgical procedures were randomly allocated to one of two groups 'Group D' and 'Group MK'. Group D received oral dexmedetomidine 3 μg/kg and group MK received 0.25 mg/kg oral midazolam (up to a maximum of 15 mg) mixed with 2.5 mg/kg oral ketamine. Drug acceptance was noted. Heart rate, arterial pressure, respiratory rate, sedation score and anxiolysis score were noted before drug administration and every 5 min for up to 30 min after drug administration. Parental separation score at 30 min and mask acceptance score in addition to parental satisfaction were also noted. Results: premedication with oral MK appeared to be superior to oral dexmedetomidine, in addition to evident haemodynamic stability and higher degree of parental satisfaction (90%), but 97% of children better accepted oral dexmedetomidine. No significant side effects were attributable to either premedication. Emergence from anaesthesia was comparable between groups. Conclusion: premedication with oral midazolam ketamine appeared to be superior to oral dexmedetomidine, with evident haemodynamic stability and a higher degree of parental satisfaction, although oral dexmedetomidine was more accepted by the children. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]