Related Experiment Video

Updated: Dec 18, 2025

Anesthesia and Intubation of Preadolescent Mouse Pups for Cardiothoracic Surgery
09:47

Anesthesia and Intubation of Preadolescent Mouse Pups for Cardiothoracic Surgery

Published on: June 2, 2022

2.7K

The effect of dexmedetomidine on postoperative behaviour change in children: a randomised controlled trial

P F Lee-Archer1,2, B S von Ungern-Sternberg3,4, M Reade5

  • 1Department of Anaesthesia, Queensland Children's Hospital, Brisbane, QLD, Australia.

Anaesthesia
|June 14, 2020
PubMed

Insights

Dexmedetomidine did not reduce negative behavior changes in children aged two to seven on postoperative day 3. However, intra-operative dexmedetomidine showed reduced negative behaviors by postoperative day 28.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatric Anesthesiology
  • Behavioral Science

Background:

  • Children may exhibit behavioral changes post-general anesthesia, including tantrums, nightmares, and sleep/eating disorders.
  • Assessing the impact of anesthetic agents on pediatric post-operative behavior is crucial for patient well-being.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate if dexmedetomidine administration (premedication or intra-operative) reduces negative behavioral changes in children aged 2-7 years after day case surgery.
  • To compare the incidence of negative behaviors at different post-operative time points.

Main Methods:

  • A randomized controlled trial involving 247 children aged 2-7 years undergoing day case surgery.
  • Three groups were studied: intranasal dexmedetomidine premedication, intravenous dexmedetomidine intra-operatively, and a control group.
  • Behavioral changes were assessed on postoperative days 3, 14, and 28 using the Post-Hospitalisation Behaviour Questionnaire for Ambulatory Surgery (PHBQ-AS) and the Strength and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ).

Main Results:

  • No significant difference in negative behavior change was observed on postoperative day 3 between the three groups (PHBQ-AS: 47%, 44%, 51%; SDQ median scores: 7.5, 6.0, 8.0).
  • A statistically significant reduction in negative behavior incidence was noted by postoperative day 28 in the intra-operative dexmedetomidine group (15%) compared to the premedication (36%) and control (41%) groups (p<0.001).

Conclusions:

  • Dexmedetomidine does not appear to reduce immediate (postoperative day 3) negative behavioral sequelae in young children undergoing ambulatory surgery.
  • Intra-operative administration of dexmedetomidine may offer a protective effect against longer-term negative behavioral changes up to postoperative day 28.

Keywords:
behaviour changeschildrendexmedetomidineemergence deliriumpaediatrics

More Related Videos

Implantation of Electroencephalogram and Electrocardiogram Telemetry Devices in Neonatal Rabbit Kits06:46

Implantation of Electroencephalogram and Electrocardiogram Telemetry Devices in Neonatal Rabbit Kits

Published on: February 28, 2025

657
Acquisition of Resting-State Functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging Data in the Rat12:41

Acquisition of Resting-State Functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging Data in the Rat

Published on: August 28, 2021

4.7K

Related Concept Videos

Parenteral Anesthetics: Overview01:24

Parenteral Anesthetics: Overview

Intravenous anesthetics are drugs administered parenterally to induce anesthesia or sedation. Propofol is a widely used agent formulated as a 1% emulsion in soybean oil, glycerol, and egg phosphatide. It induces rapid anesthesia primarily due to its rapid distribution from the bloodstream to target tissues and is metabolized in the liver. However, it can cause significant pain on injection and hypertriglyceridemia. Fospropofol, a water-based prodrug of propofol, lacks these adverse effects.
495
Stages of General Anesthesia01:22

Stages of General Anesthesia

Various sedation levels offer significant advantages in facilitating procedural interventions for patients undergoing medical or invasive surgical procedures. These levels span from anxiolysis to general anesthesia, providing a spectrum of sedative effects to cater to specific patient needs. Anxiolysis reduces anxiety and is achieved through minimal sedation, enabling patients to remain awake and responsive while feeling more at ease during the procedure. This level can benefit minor...
1.3K
Drug Dosing: Infants and Children01:29

Drug Dosing: Infants and Children

Pediatric patient dosages diverge from adults due to disparities in body surface area, total body water, and extracellular fluid per kilogram of body weight. The dosing regimen considers the variations in pharmacokinetics and pharmacology across distinct age groups, encompassing preterm newborns, infants, young children, older children, and adolescents. Calculation of pediatric patient doses is predicated on determining body surface area, which exhibits a superior correlation with the child's...
168
Sedatives and Hypnotics Drugs: Miscellaneous Agents01:17

Sedatives and Hypnotics Drugs: Miscellaneous Agents

Sedatives and hypnotics encompass a wide range of substances, each with its unique mechanism of action, uses, and potential adverse effects.
Melatonin congeners like ramelteon (Rozerem) and tasimelteon (Hetlioz) selectively bind to melatonin receptors (MT1 and MT2) and thus mimic the actions of melatonin, a hormone that regulates sleep-wake cycles. Tasimelteon is primarily used for non-24-hour sleep-wake disorder, common in blind patients. They are also used to treat conditions like insomnia...
399
Depolarizing Blockers: Pharmocokinetics01:19

Depolarizing Blockers: Pharmocokinetics

Depolarizing blockers are administered through intravenous injection. Succinylcholine is the most common choice of depolarizing blockers in emergency clinical practices. Although they have a rapid onset, they readily diffuse away from the motor end plate into the extracellular fluid. They are metabolized by enzymes such as liver butyrylcholinesterase and plasma pseudocholinesterases. This produces a short duration of action, typically 5-10 minutes long, unlike nondepolarizing blockers, which...
518
Skeletal Muscle Relaxants: Adverse Effects01:21

Skeletal Muscle Relaxants: Adverse Effects

Skeletal muscle relaxants are widely used for muscle paralysis and relieving pain following any muscle injury or stiffness. However, depending on the drug type, they can have adverse effects that range from mild to severe. Usually, nondepolarizing neuromuscular blockers have minimal side effects. For example, drugs like d-tubocurarine, cisatracurium, and rocuronium cause hypotension, whereas drugs like baclofen, when stopped abruptly, can lead to the recurrence of spastic conditions.
Unlike...
706