Efficiency of Melatonin as Compared to Pentobarbital for Audiometry Brainstem Response in Children With Associated Disorders.
OBJECTIVE
Outpatient pediatric audiometry brainstem response (ABR) uses various techniques (no drug, hydroxyzine, pentobarbital, melatonin). The aim of this study was to evaluate the efficiency of melatonin as compared to pentobarbital in children with associated disorders.


METHODS
This was a retrospective study that took place in a tertiary care center. Eighty-three children (34 girls and 49 boys) had performed ABR under pentobarbital (GPent) or melatonin (GMel) between 2013 and 2014 and were included. All children had associated neurological or behavioral disorders or had failed a previous ABR using another technique. Success rate, defined as completed binaural investigation, delay, and duration of sleep (minutes), as well as side effects, were compared between GPent and GMel.


RESULTS
There were 56 patients in GMel and 27 in GPent, with a mean age at test of 3 years and 10 months (1-13 years) and 4 years and 1 month (1-14.5 years), respectively. Success rate was 76.8% and 88.8%, respectively (p > .05), sleep duration was 23 and 153 min (p < .0001), and mean delay was 35 and 54 min. No side effects have been reported.


CONCLUSIONS
Melatonin is a drug widely used, particularly for electroencephalogram in children. Sleep duration allowed a success rate that was comparable to pentobarbital. Melatonin seems to be an efficient alternative to pentobarbital for pediatric ABR.
Service d'Oto-Rhino-Laryngologie Pédiatrique, Hôpital Necker Enfants Malades, Paris, France.
Joanne
J
Guerlain
Service d'Oto-Rhino-Laryngologie Pédiatrique, Hôpital Necker Enfants Malades, Paris, France.
Antoine
A
Paul
Service d'Oto-Rhino-Laryngologie Pédiatrique, Hôpital Necker Enfants Malades, Paris, France.
Isabelle
I
Rouillon
Service d'Oto-Rhino-Laryngologie Pédiatrique, Hôpital Necker Enfants Malades, Paris, France.
Marine
M
Parodi
Service d'Oto-Rhino-Laryngologie Pédiatrique, Hôpital Necker Enfants Malades, Paris, France.
Erea Noel
EN
Garabedian
Service d'Oto-Rhino-Laryngologie Pédiatrique, Hôpital Necker Enfants Malades, Paris, France.
Natalie
N
Loundon
D000293:Adolescent; D001300:Audiometry, Evoked Response / Q000379:methods*; D002492:Central Nervous System Depressants / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004569:Electroencephalography; D016057:Evoked Potentials, Auditory, Brain Stem; D005260:Female; D034381:Hearing Loss / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis*; D006801:Humans; D006993:Hypnotics and Sedatives / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D008550:Melatonin / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000150:complications; D009422:Nervous System Diseases / Q000150:complications; D010424:Pentobarbital / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013997:Time Factors
D002492:Central Nervous System Depressants; D006993:Hypnotics and Sedatives; D010424:Pentobarbital; D008550:Melatonin