title: Oral midazolam compared with diazepam-droperidol and trimeprazine as premedicants in children.
abstract: Ninety children were assigned randomly to one of three groups for premedication with oral midazolam 0.5 mg.kg-1, diazepam 0.25 mg.kg-1 with droperidol 0.25 mg.kg-1, or trimeprazine 2 mg.kg-1. On arrival at the anaesthetic room, anxiolysis was satisfactory in 26 out of 29 (90%) children who received midazolam compared with 23 out of 29 (79%) who received diazepam-droperidol and 18 out of 29 (62%) who received trimeprazine (P < 0.05); at induction of anaesthesia these proportions were 24 out of 29 (83%), 16 out of 29 (55%) and 11 out of 29 (40%) respectively (P < 0.001). When individual groups were compared, anxiolysis was significantly greater in the midazolam group compared with the trimeprazine group on arrival in the anaesthetic room (P < 0.05) and significantly greater in the midazolam group than in either the diazepam-droperidol or the trimeprazine groups at induction of anaesthesia (P < 0.05 and P < 0.001 respectively). There were no significant differences in times to early recovery between the groups (25.4, 24.4 and 28.5 min). Analysis of behavioural questionnaires completed two weeks after hospitalization showed a trend towards fewer postoperative behavioural disturbances in children who received midazolam or diazepam-droperidol compared with trimeprazine (47 and 44% vs 75%); when the results for the benzodiazepine-containing premedicants were combined, the difference between these groups and trimeprazine was statistically significant (P < 0.05).
authors.affiliation: University Department of Anaesthesia, Royal Manchester Children's Hospital, Pendlebury, UK.
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Patel
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Meakin
mesh_terms: D000759:Adjuvants, Anesthesia / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D000284:Administration, Oral; D000762:Anesthesia Recovery Period; D000769:Anesthesia, Inhalation; D000771:Anesthesia, Intravenous; D014151:Anti-Anxiety Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D001007:Anxiety / Q000517:prevention & control; D002648:Child; D002652:Child Behavior / Q000187:drug effects; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003299:Cooperative Behavior; D003448:Crying; D003975:Diazepam / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D004329:Droperidol / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D006993:Hypnotics and Sedatives / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D008297:Male; D008874:Midazolam / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D011229:Preanesthetic Medication; D012890:Sleep / Q000187:drug effects; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000517:prevention & control; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014291:Trimeprazine / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D014851:Wakefulness / Q000187:drug effects
chemical_list: D000759:Adjuvants, Anesthesia; D014151:Anti-Anxiety Agents; D006993:Hypnotics and Sedatives; D014291:Trimeprazine; D004329:Droperidol; D003975:Diazepam; D008874:Midazolam