Gurudatta K. N, Champa B. V, Rashmi
Majority of Paediatric patients experience significant anxiety in the preoperative holding area and during induction of anesthesia. Such anxiety often prolongs the induction of Anesthesia, increases post-operative pain and produces negative behavioral changes in children. Effective premedication is the answer, which permits less traumatic separation of child from parents and facilitates smooth induction of anesthesia. The aim of the study is to evaluate and compare the efficacy of oral clonidine v/s oral midazolam administered as a pre medicant in children. METHODS: 100 patients of ASA group I/II of either sex between the age group 4 years to 12 years scheduled for elective surgery were divided into two groups. (1) Group C received tablet oral clonidine 4µg/kg mixed with 5 ml of water 90 minutes before the induction. (2) Group M – received oral midazolam syrup 0.5mg/kg 45 minutes before the induction. Both the groups were assessed for: (1) drug acceptance (2) sedation score (3) anxiety score (4) onset of sedation (5) mask acceptance (6) Cardio respiratory scoring (7) OPS scoring (8) Parental acceptance. The results were statistically analysed. CONCLUSION: Premedication with oral clonidine is a suitable alternative to oral midazolam. It has several advantages compared to oral midazolam, like better acceptance of the drug by the children, adequate sedation and anxiolysis, easy acceptance of mask and I.V. cannulation, minimal side effects, adequate analgesia, good parental satisfaction. One disadvantage of clonidine is slower onset of action.
