Background
Dexmedetomidine procedural sedation for pediatric patients undergoing radiological imaging has proved to be effective and safe.
Objective
We compared the efficacy of outpatient sedation with intravenous dexmedetomidine versus intravenous midazolam in autistic children undergoing electroencephalogram.
Patients and methods
Forty pediatric autistic patients aged 6–11 years old undergoing electroencephalogram were studied. In the dexmedetomidine group, patients received a loading dose of IV dexmedetomidine 1 μg/kg slowly over 10 min followed by an IV infusion of dexmedetomidine 0.7 μg/kg/h stopped when Ramsay sedation score (RSS) reached 4. In the midazolam group ( = 20), patients received induction with a loading dose of 0.05 mg/kg midazolam given over 2 min, then wait another 2 to 5 min to evaluate the sedative effect. Additional doses of IV midazolam (0.05 mg/kg) were given until we reached RSS reached 4.
Results
Dexmedetomidine was associated with shorter induction and recovery times(< 0.001) and higher percentage of oxygen saturation compared with midazolam group ( < 0.001).
Conclusion
Dexmedetomidine is a feasible sedation technique in autistic children undergoing outpatient electroencephalogram in terms of faster recovery and less incidence of complications.