The use of oral midazolam in accident and emergency to reduce anxiety in children.
The injured child can react to a visit to the Accident and Emergency (A & E) department in many ways. The strange noise, people, environment or their frightened parents may be overwhelming for the child. The screaming, uncooperative child can be as hard to manage as the silent unpredictable child, and there are also the smiling, laughing 'you can do anything to me within reason' children. As all these children present at our triage stations, the vast majority can be assessed quickly and efficiently with regard to their anxiety. As experienced A & E nurses we know which child will probably have to endure a painful procedure, which ones will cope well and which will not. This article aims to discuss one method of reducing anxiety for our paediatric clientele, oral midazolam. There is a need for sedation in some children; this will be further explained. The pharmacology of midazolam will be briefly looked at, within this article further detail is not necessary. The main discussion will be the introduction and the current use of oral midazolam in A & E at Leeds General Infirmary (LGI, UK). Some concerns and worries will be considered.
Walker
J
J
D000284:Administration, Oral; D001007:Anxiety / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000209:etiology; D002648:Child; D002673:Child, Hospitalized / Q000523:psychology*; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D004636:Emergency Service, Hospital; D006801:Humans; D006993:Hypnotics and Sedatives / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D007223:Infant; D008874:Midazolam / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*
D006993:Hypnotics and Sedatives; D008874:Midazolam