Premedication with intranasal dexmedetomidine, midazolam and ketamine for children undergoing bone marrow biopsy and aspirate

Background
Preanesthetic medication in pediatrics is very helpful in relieving anxiety, fear, and psychological trauma due to maternal deprivation. Many drugs used in different routes aiming to alleviate stress and prevent psychological trauma. Of these drugs midazolam and ketamine are commonly used. We aimed in this work to compare both of them with dexmedetomidine which is α 2-agonist when used intranasally in children undergoing bone marrow biopsy and aspirate in sedation and premedication.
Methods
96 children aged 2–8 years with ASA physical status II scheduled for bone marrow biopsy and aspirate were divided into three groups 32 child in each one: (M group) who were premedicated with intranasal midazolam 0.2 mg/kg, (D group) who were premedicated with intranasal dexmedetomidine 1 μg/kg, and (K group) who were premedicated with intranasal ketamine 5 mg/kg. The degree of sedation was assessed every 5 min for 30 min by using a 4 point sedation scale. Also, child–parent separation was assessed and graded according to a 4 point scale at 30 min.
Results
We found that dexmedetomidine group achieved a faster sedation score less than 3 at the point of 10 min, then all groups achieved a comparable sedation score till point of 25 min, both dexmedetomidine and midazolam groups had better sedation score than ketamine group at 30 min. Children achieved child–parents separation score grade 1 was significantly higher in dexmedetomidine group than midazolam and ketamine groups.
Conclusions
Midazolam, ketamine and dexmedetomidine produced adequate sedation with little side effects. So, we prefer to use midazolam due its efficacy and safety as well as availability and its low price in comparison to ketamine and dexmedetomidine.