Use of intranasal Dexmedetomidine as anesthetic premedication in pediatric patients.

Abstract

Introduction: It is important that anesthesiologists implement various methods to reduce the stress levels and suffering of children during their stay in the operating room, thus facilitating the induction of anesthesia. In recent years, dexmedetomidine has been used as a sole sedative and anxiolytic agent intranasally with success in pediatric patients. Methods: Double-blind randomized clinical trial in 32 pediatric patients scheduled for elective surgeries in whom Dexmedetomidine was administered at 3 micrograms/kilogram intranasally. The degrees of sedation according to the Ramsay scale, heart rate, oxygen saturation and adverse effects were recorded. Results: 94.7% of patients (30 patients) presented adequate levels of sedation 30 minutes after the intranasal administration of dexmedetomidine. At 30 minutes after administration, no differences were demonstrated in the relationship between the degree of sedation with age (p=0.102) and sex of the patients (p=0.677). Some type of side effects occurred in 9 of the patients (28.1%), the most common being cough after intranasal administration. Conclusion: Intranasal dexmedetomidine at a dose of 3 mcg/kg appears to be an effective option for preoperative sedation in children, with positive results in reducing agitation and anxiety with few side effects.