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Premedication of the pediatric patient - anesthesia for the uncooperative child

Pervin Bozkurt1

  • 1Department of Anesthesiology and Reanimation, Cerrahpasa Medical Faculty, Istanbul University, Istanbul, Turkey. apervin@yahoo.com

Current Opinion in Anaesthesiology
|May 5, 2007
PubMed

Insights

Preoperative medication for uncooperative children improves postoperative behavior. This review covers new and older agents like oral midazolam, dexmedetomidine, and atypical antipsychotics for better surgical preparation.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatric Anesthesiology
  • Pharmacology

Background:

  • Inadequate preoperative management of uncooperative children can lead to postoperative behavioral issues.
  • Premedication is crucial for a calm induction and reducing postoperative problems.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review various premedicants for managing uncooperative children.
  • To discuss the efficacy and safety of new and older agents.

Main Methods:

  • Literature review of studies on pediatric premedication.
  • Analysis of newer agents like dexmedetomidine and atypical antipsychotics.
  • Evaluation of established agents such as oral midazolam.

Main Results:

  • Oral midazolam's effects in children are becoming clearer.
  • Dexmedetomidine and atypical antipsychotics offer alternatives for severely uncooperative children.
  • Information gaps exist regarding older premedicants.

Conclusions:

  • Balancing benefits and risks of new and old drugs is essential.
  • Treatment decisions should consider surgical needs, ward environment, and patient's condition.
  • Further research is needed for anxiolytic, sedative, and antipsychotic drugs.
Abstract

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