title: Comparison of psychomotor functions and sedation following premedication with oral diazepam and clonidine in children.
abstract: In a prospective, double-blind, controlled, randomized study, the psychomotor functions and sedation were assessed after premedication with diazepam and clonidine in children. Forty children in the age-group of 5-8 years, undergoing elective surgery under general anesthesia were studied. Twenty children (group 1) received oral clonidine 4 microg/kg, and 20 children (group 2) received oral diazepam 0.2 mg/kg, 120 minutes before induction of anesthesia. Sedation and psychomotor functions were assessed in both groups, before and after 60-90 minutes of administration of premedication. The results of the study showed that mean sedation score in group 1 was 8 +/- 1.07, and 9 +/- 0.64 in group 2. On intergroup comparison the sedation was found to be comparatively better in group 2 than group 1 (p < 0.05). The performance of psychomotor functions decreased after premedication in both the groups as compared to that before premedication (p < 0.05). The psychomotor functions were depressed more in diazepam group than in the clonidine group (p < 0.05). Thus, it is concluded that clonidine produces good sedation and causes less effect on psychomotor functions and therefore can be used for premedication in children.
authors.affiliation: Department of Anaesthesiology, Postgraduate Institute of Medical Education and Research, Chandigarh, India.
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Jatti
authors.forename: Y K
authors.initials: YK
authors.lastname: Batra
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Bhardwaj
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Malhotra
mesh_terms: D000284:Administration, Oral; D014151:Anti-Anxiety Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003000:Clonidine / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D016292:Procedural Sedation; D003975:Diazepam / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007360:Intelligence / Q000187:drug effects; D007361:Intelligence Tests; D008297:Male; D011292:Premedication; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011594:Psychometrics; D011597:Psychomotor Performance / Q000187:drug effects*; D013565:Sympatholytics / Q000627:therapeutic use*
chemical_list: D014151:Anti-Anxiety Agents; D013565:Sympatholytics; D003000:Clonidine; D003975:Diazepam