Melatonin or its analogs as premedication to prevent emergence agitation in children: a systematic review and

Dongni Zhang1, Xiaotong Jia1, Duomao Lin1

  • 1Department of Anesthesiology, Beijing Anzhen Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, 100029, China.

BMC Anesthesiology
|December 1, 2023
PubMed

Insights

Melatonin premedication effectively reduces emergence agitation in children after anesthesia compared to placebos and midazolam. Dexmedetomidine shows a stronger preventative effect than melatonin.

Area of Science:

  • Anesthesiology
  • Pediatric Medicine
  • Pharmacology

Background:

  • Emergence agitation (EA) is a common complication in pediatric patients following general anesthesia.
  • Existing research on melatonin's efficacy in preventing pediatric EA presents conflicting findings.
  • This meta-analysis addresses the need for a comprehensive assessment of melatonin and its analogs for preventing EA.

Conclusions:

  • Melatonin premedication is effective in decreasing the incidence of emergence agitation in children compared to placebo and midazolam.
  • Dexmedetomidine exhibits a more potent effect than melatonin in preventing EA.
  • Further research is recommended to confirm and strengthen the evidence on melatonin's efficacy in pediatric EA prevention.
Abstract

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