Oral administration of midazolam as a premedicant for paediatric day-case anaesthesia.
Fifty-four children aged 1-10 years, scheduled for day-case anaesthesia were prescribed either oral midazolam 0.5 mg.kg-1 or a placebo preparation 30-60 min pre-operatively on a double-blind basis. On arrival at the induction room, anxiolysis was satisfactory in 23 out of 24 (96%) children who received midazolam compared with 12 out of 27 (44%) of those who received placebo (p < 0.001); at induction of anaesthesia these proportions were 21 out of 24 (88%) and nine out of 27 (33%) respectively (p < 0.001). The time to early recovery from anaesthesia was somewhat longer in children premedicated with midazolam compared with controls (28.2 vs 21.9 min) (p < 0.05). Similarly, the time to hospital discharge was longer in the midazolam group (244 vs 185 min) (p < 0.01). Analysis of behavioural questionnaires completed by parents 2 weeks after hospitalisation indicated that there were fewer postoperative behavioural disturbances in children premedicated with midazolam compared with controls (p < 0.05).
University Department of Anaesthesia, Royal Manchester Children's Hospital, Pendlebury.
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A
McCluskey
G H
GH
Meakin
D000284:Administration, Oral; D000556:Ambulatory Surgical Procedures; D001007:Anxiety; D002648:Child; D002653:Child Behavior Disorders / Q000139:chemically induced; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D008874:Midazolam / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000139:chemically induced; D011229:Preanesthetic Medication
D008874:Midazolam