[Comparative study of sublingual midazolam with oral midazolam for premedication in pediatric anesthesia]

We studied the efficacy of sublingual midazolam compared with oral midazolam for predmedication in children.

Forty-two children (9 months-11 years of age) for minor elective surgery were divided into 2 groups; one group treated with sublingual midazolam at 30 minutes before the entrance into operating room, and the other group receiving oral midazolam at 30 minutes before entering operating room. The group treated with sublingual midazolam at 30 minutes received sublingual midazolam 0.2 mg x kg(-1), while the other group received oral midazolam 0.5 mg x kg(-1) with syrup. We evaluated the taste acceptability, the effect of sedation, the anxiolysis and the cooperation for mask acceptance by using scales.

Twenty children accepted sublingual midazolam, and twenty-one accepted oral midazolam. It was effective and satisfactory in taste acceptability, sedation, anxiolysis and cooperation in both groups. There was no difference between the two groups. Any respiratory depression and delayed recovery were not observed.

Sublingual midazolam 0.2 mg x kg(-1) is useful for premedication in pediatric anesthesia, and it equals with oral midazolam 0.5 mg x kg(-1) in efficacy.