[Midazolam--how safe is it in sedation of newborn?]

Ewa Gulczyńska1

  • 1Instytut Centrum Zdrowia Matki Polki w Lodzi, Klinika Neonatologii. ewagulcz@wp.pl

Since the nineties, while both pain and stress reactions in newborn were revealed, the period of opioid analgesia as well as benzodwuazepin sedation was initiated. Midazolam is the drug which is particularly willingly used in neonatal intensive care units. Although commonly accepted as a safe drug, midazolam produced adverse effects which could make early as well late treatment outcome worse. In this paper the results of pharmacokinetics studies and studies concerning the adverse effects of midazolam among low birth weight newborn are collected and the current opinion of experts dedicates regarding analgetic and sedative procedures in neonatal period are presented. On the basis of the results of the previous studies, it seems reasonable to be more critical of our sedation approach with midazolam and pay more attention to appropriate administration of midazolam in neonatal period.

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