title: Comparative study of oral clonidine and diazepam as premedicants in children.
abstract: In a prospective, double-blind, controlled study the efficacy of clonidine was assessed in children, with respect to sedation, intubation response, and recovery. Fifty children, aged 4-12 years, undergoing general anesthesia were studied. Twenty-five children (group I) received oral diazepam) 0.2 mg/kg and another 25 children (group II) received oral clonidine 3 micrograms/kg, 90-120 minutes before induction of anesthesia. The level of sedation, hemodynamic changes to laryngoscopy and intubation, the recovery from anesthesia were noted and compared between the groups. Clonidine 3 micrograms/kg produced sedation comparable to diazepam 0.2 mg/kg (p > 0.1). There was significant (p > 0.01) attenuation of hemodynamic intubation response with clonidine. The recovery with clonidine was not delayed (p < 0.01). Clinically significant hypotension and bradycardia were not observed in any of the patients. We conclude that clonidine 3 micrograms/kg produces sedation comparable to diazepam 0.2 mg/kg and also attenuates the intubation response without increasing the incidence of complications.
authors.affiliation: Department of Anaesthesia, Postgraduate Institute of Medical Education and Research, Chandigarh, India.
authors.forename: V J
authors.initials: VJ
authors.lastname: Ramesh
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Bhardwaj
authors.forename: Y K
authors.initials: YK
authors.lastname: Batra
mesh_terms: D000316:Adrenergic alpha-Agonists / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D014151:Anti-Anxiety Agents / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001794:Blood Pressure / Q000187:drug effects; D002648:Child; D003000:Clonidine / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D003975:Diazepam / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D005260:Female; D006339:Heart Rate / Q000187:drug effects; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011292:Premedication
chemical_list: D000316:Adrenergic alpha-Agonists; D014151:Anti-Anxiety Agents; D003000:Clonidine; D003975:Diazepam