BACKGROUND: In people with intellectual disabilities and/or autism spectrum disorder, oral midazolam (OM) is very effective as premedication for facilitating medical treatment. In this retrospective study, we investigated the optimal dosage of OM for premedication.
METHODS: Patients with intellectual disability and/or autism spectrum disorder who were given OM as a premedication were selected from anaesthesia records. The primary outcome variable was the dose of OM (mg/kg) required to produce an adequate sedation.
RESULTS: The mean OM dose required was 0.32 ± 0.10 mg/kg. The required OM dose decreased significantly as age and weight increased, and age and weight were also shown to be significantly associated with the dose of OM in the multivariate linear regression analysis.
CONCLUSIONS: The dosage of OM to achieve adequate sedation should decrease as the patient ages. Furthermore, adequate sedation can be achieved with even lower doses of OM in obese people.

BACKGROUND: Reducing a child\'s level of anxiety before magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) procedures allows for better behavioral outcomes. The aim of this retrospective study was to evaluate anxiolytic efficacy of Midazolam/γ-cyclodextrin oral formulation.
METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed 100 medical charts of children who, between 1 February and 31 July 2022, underwent MRI under general anesthesia with or without premedication with midazolam/γ-cyclodextrin. Primary outcome was comparison of behavior to facemask positioning, while secondary endpoints were degree of drugs acceptance, anxiolytic effect evaluation, child\'s behavior on separation, and sevoflurane need.
RESULTS: Facemask positioning was accepted by 58% of the midazolam/γ-cyclodextrin group compared to 22% of children in the control group. The rate of acceptance was >90%. At the moment of separation from parent, none of the premedicated children needed to be restrained compared to 18% in the control group. A lower percentage of sevoflurane was needed for eye-closure at induction of anesthesia and for anesthesia maintenance. At emergence from anesthesia, 46% of children in the premedicated group compared to 66% of children in the control group showed transient agitation.
CONCLUSIONS: Midazolam/γ-cyclodextrin showed a good profile of acceptance, satisfactory anxiolytic properties, and reduced need for anesthetics when administered to children before MRI under general anesthesia.

BACKGROUND: The exact median effective dose (ED50) of intranasal dexmedetomidine combined with oral midazolam sedation for magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) examination in children remains unknow and the aim of this study was to determine the ED50 of their combination.
METHODS: This is a prospective dose-finding study. A total of 53 children aged from 2 months to 6 years scheduled for MRI examination from February 2023 to April 2023 were randomly divided into group D (to determine the ED50 of intranasal dexmedetomidine) and group M (to determine the ED50 of oral midazolam). The dosage of dexmedetomidine and midazolam was adjusted according to the modified Dixon\'s up-and-down method, and the ED50 was calculated with a probit regression approach.
RESULTS: The ED50 of intranasal dexmedetomidine when combined with 0.5 mg∙kg- 1 oral midazolam was 0.39 µg∙kg- 1 [95% confidence interval (CI) 0.30 to 0.46 µg∙kg- 1] while the ED50 of oral midazolam was 0.17 mg∙kg- 1 (95% CI 0.01 to 0.29 mg∙kg- 1) when combined with 1 µg∙kg- 1 intranasal dexmedetomidine. The sedation onset time of children with successful sedation in group D was longer than in group M (30.0[25.0, 38.0]vs 19.5[15.0, 35.0] min, P < 0.05). No other adverse effects were observed in the day and 24 h after medication except one dysphoria.
CONCLUSIONS: This drug combination sedation regimen appears suitable for children scheduled for MRI examinations, offering a more precise approach to guide the clinical use of sedative drugs in children.
BACKGROUND: Chinese Clinical Trial Registry, identifier: ChiCTR2300068611(24/02/2023).

Midazolam is frequently used as a single agent to provide minimal sedation (also called anxiolysis) when performing procedures in minor children. Published guidelines on the optimal use of intranasal (INM) and oral midazolam (POM) are lacking. The purpose of this study is to explore the self-reported physician practice related to midazolam use in facilitating minor procedures in children. We developed a survey that was approved by the Academy of Pediatrics Section on Emergency Medicine (APP-SOEM) and was then electronically distributed via its listserve. Questions were posed about the therapeutic and maximum dosing of INM and POM, consideration of Nothing-By-Mouth (NPO) status, use of cardiopulmonary monitors, as well as discharge criteria. There was a 47% (218/465) response rate. For therapeutic INM doses, 65% of responders used a dose range of 0.3 to 0.6 mg/kg, and 75% selected a maximum dose of 10 mg irrespective of the child\'s weight. About 20% of the responders selected a dosage range of 0.7 to 1 mg/kg for therapeutic POM dose, with 43% opting for a maximum dose of 20 mg irrespective of the child\'s weight. We observed a dichotomous variation in reported physician use of cardiopulmonary monitors; 42% never employ monitors, and the remainder used monitors some of the time. There was consensus on the NPO status and discharge criteria; 80% of physicians did not consider NPO status prior to midazolam use. The level of alertness was the most commonly selected discharge criterion. This nationwide survey of physicians indicates practice variation with midazolam dosing and cardiopulmonary monitor usage when performing minor procedures in children. Implementing practice guidelines, specifically for minimal sedation with mainstay agents such as midazolam, may standardize physician practice and improve overall patient care.

UNASSIGNED: To investigate the tolerability of midazolam intravenous (IV) solution by masking its bitter taste through the addition of syrup.
UNASSIGNED: In the waiting area before surgery at our institution, Eye and ENT Hospital, from May to November of 2021, pediatric patients scheduled for anterior ear fistula removal or eardrum catheterization were randomly assigned to receive a mixture of IV midazolam and water (Group C) or IV midazolam and syrup (Group S) in equal volumes. We measured the difference between the groups in terms of drug tolerability with a 5-point facial hedonic scale given to every patient, parent, and nurse involved in the study. Secondary outcomes included sedation and anxiety levels, which were assessed at separation from the parents and general anesthesia induction via a mask.
UNASSIGNED: In total, 180 patients were enrolled. The facial hedonic scales were higher in Group S as evaluated by the children (p=0.046), parents (p=0.020), and nurses (p=0.026). More patients were willing to take the same solution again in Group S than in Group C (p=0.024). The levels of sedation and anxiety at two timepoints were similar between the groups (all p>0.05). No adverse events were noted preoperatively.
UNASSIGNED: The tolerability of IV midazolam administered orally was increased in a pediatric population by adding syrup. The sedative and anxiolytic effects were comparable for both midazolam mixtures.
UNASSIGNED: China Clinical Research Information Service, ChiCTR2000040229.

BACKGROUND: Non-painful diagnostic procedures require an inactive state for a prolonged time, so that sedation is often needed in younger children to perform the procedures. Our standard of care in this setting consists of the association between oral midazolam (0.5 mg/kg) and intranasal dexmedetomidine (4 mcg/kg). One of the limits of this approach is that the onset of action is quite delayed (up to 55 min) and poorly predictable. We chose to compare this association with intranasal-ketamine and intranasal-dexmedetomidine.
METHODS: This is a \"pre-post\" study. The study population included the first forty children receiving sedation with the \"new\" combination intranasal ketamine (3 mg/kg) and intranasal dexmedetomidine (4 mcg/kg) compared to a historical cohort including the last forty children receiving sedation with our standard of care combination of intranasal dexmedetomidine (4mcg/kg) and oral midazolam (0,5 mg/kg).
RESULTS: The association intranasal dexmedetomidine and intranasal ketamine allowed for a significantly shorter sedation induction time than the combination intranasal dexmedetomidine and oral midazolam (13,5 min versus 35 min). Both group\'s cumulative data showed a correlation between age and sedation effectiveness, with younger children presenting a higher success rate and shorter induction time (p 0,001).
CONCLUSIONS: This study suggests that the ketamine and dexmedetomidine intranasal association may have a shorter onset of action when compared to intranasal dexmedetomidine and oral midazolam.

Background: A meta-analysis was performed to evaluate the effect of smartphone interventions on the anxiety of the pediatric subjects at induction on the day of surgery compared to oral midazolam or standard care as control. Methods: A systematic literature search up to June 2021 was performed and nine studies selected 785 pediatric subjects on the day of surgery at the start of the study; 390 of them were using smartphone interventions, 192 were control, and 203 were using oral midazolam. They were reporting relationships between the effects of smartphone interventions on the anxiety of the pediatric subjects at induction on the day of surgery compared to oral midazolam or control. The mean difference (MD) with its 95% CIs was calculated to assess the effect of smartphone interventions on the anxiety of the pediatric subjects at induction on the day of surgery compared to oral midazolam or control using the continuous method with a fixed or a random-effects model. Results: Smartphone interventions in pediatric subjects were significantly related to lower anxiety at induction on the day of surgery (MD, -19.74; 95% CI, -29.87 to -9.61, p < 0.001) compared to control and significantly related to lower anxiety at induction on the day of surgery (MD, -7.81; 95% CI, -14.49 to -1.14, p = 0.02) compared to oral midazolam. Conclusion: Smartphone interventions in pediatric subjects on the day of surgery may have lower anxiety at induction compared to control and oral midazolam. Further studies are needed to confirm these findings.

UNASSIGNED: Ultrasound is a safe and non-invasive method for detecting numerous pathologies. Pediatric patients are often uncooperative which leads to decreased quality and increased time of scan. We compared the conventional means alone and combination of oral midazolam for the above cited purpose.
UNASSIGNED: This double blind prospective study (CTRI/2016/06/007030) was conducted after obtaining due approval from institutional ethical committee. One hundred Children aged 2-6 years belonging to ASA class 1 or 2, posted for high resolution ultrasonography of abdomen were included in the study. They were randomised to receive midazolam 0.3 mg/kg mixed in 20 mL of apple juice (Group I) or 20 mL of apple juice alone (Group II) 20 minutes prior to the procedure. The parameters assessed were level of cooperation, sonologist\'s satisfaction, total scan time, heart rate and SpO2.
UNASSIGNED: Out of 100 patients, 44 patients of group I and 42 of group II were analysed. The cooperation score was significantly higher in Group I (35%) than Group II (19%). Likert scale revealed very satisfied and satisfied rating in 61.3% (Group I) and 21.4% (Group II). The time taken by sonologist and number of attempts were significantly less in Group I than Group II. There was no difference in discharge time between the groups. There was no reportable adverse event in either group.
UNASSIGNED: Oral midazolam is a safe and effective agent to aid routine abdominal ultrasonography in pediatric patients.

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to compare effects of tablet-based interactive distraction (TBID; 1 minute preseparation) with oral midazolam (15 to 45 minutes of preseparation) on preoperative anxiety, emergence delirium, and postanesthesia length of stay in children, 4 to 12 years undergoing outpatient surgery.
METHODS: Single-blinded prospective design with randomized assignment to TBID or oral midazolam group was conducted at a large pediatric hospital in southwestern United States.
METHODS: A total of 102 children and caregivers were enrolled. Outcome measures included anxiety scores at baseline, separation, and mask induction; postemergence delirium scores; caregiver ratings of child anxiety and satisfaction; and time from postanesthesia care unit arrival to discharge and posthospital behaviors.
RESULTS: The TBID group demonstrated significantly lower anxiety at separation and mask induction (P < .001) and emergence delirium at 15 minutes postawakening (P = .001), were extubated earlier (P = .007), arrived to phase II earlier (P = .03), and discharged earlier (P = .0001).
CONCLUSIONS: TBID was more effective than oral midazolam in reducing preoperative anxiety, emergence delirium, and postanesthesia length of stay.

This study aimed to compare the effects of oral midazolam and chloral hydrate in pre-echocardiography sedation of children. In this double-blind clinical trial, 68 children were randomly assigned to midazolam (0.2 mg/kg) or chloral hydrate (50 mg/kg). The intensity, duration, and onset of the drugs\' effects were assessed. Data were analyzed using the χ2 and Mann-Whitney tests (P ≤ .05). The average onset and duration of sedation in the children assigned to midazolam was shorter than in those assigned chloral hydrate (6.35 ± 3.65 and 19.14 ± 5.86 minutes, P = .0001, and 27.64 ± 8.34 and 48.97 ± 14.81 minutes, P = .0001). Gastrointestinal side effects were more frequent in the chloral hydrate group (23.5% against 0%, P = .003). According to the results of the present study, chloral hydrate and midazolam can be appropriate choices for pre-echocardiography sedation of patients without cardiovascular risk factors. Considering the similar effectiveness, more rapid onset, and shorter duration of sedation, besides less side effects in the midazolam group, researchers recommend the routine use of this drug.