Atomized intranasal midazolam use for minor procedures in the pediatric emergency department

Procedural sedation is increasingly more common in pediatric emergency departments. We report our experience with intranasal midazolam (INM) using a unique atomization delivery device, specifically the efficacy and safety of this method of sedation.

We performed a retrospective chart review of children who received INM sedation in the emergency department from April 1, 2005, through June 30, 2005. All children aged 1 to 60 months who received INM as the initial means of sedation were eligible for the study. Patients were excluded if they were older than 60 months.

There were 205 patients who received INM for sedation and who met the study criteria. The mean age was 31.3 +/- 13.2 months (range, 1.5-60 months). The mean and median initial INM dose was 0.4 mg/kg (range, 0.3-0.8 mg/kg). Laceration repair was the most common procedure necessitating sedation (89%). The median degree-of-sedation score achieved was 2.0 (anxiolysis). Eleven patients (5.4%; 95% CI, 3%-9%) required an additional sedative to complete the procedure. Ten of the 11 patients received ketamine as the adjunctive sedative, and 1 patient required additional INM. The average time of last oral intake to start of sedation was 3.5 hours (range, 0.5-10.0 hours). Thirty six patients (18%) were NPO for 2 hours or less. There was 1 adverse event (0.5%; 95% CI, 0%-3%). This was a minor desaturation episode following ketamine administration requiring brief blow by oxygen. There were no adverse events (0%; 95% CI, 0%-2%) in patients who received INM alone.

We conclude that atomized INM is effective in providing anxiolysis to children undergoing minor procedures in the pediatric emergency department. We are encouraged that no adverse events occurred with the use of INM alone despite relatively short fasting times.