Intra-nasal dexmedetomidine superior option for sedation in autistic children undergoing EEG

A single centre, prospective observational study of children with autism sedated for electroencephalograms using IN-DEX compared to an age-matched, historic group of children with autism, sedated for electroencephalograms using TFS.

Results:

• Characteristics of 41 IN-DEX sedations were compared to 41 TFS sedations in 82 ASD children. Epileptiform discharges were demonstrated in 23/82 (28%) of children in the cohort. Sedation depth by UMSS was significantly deeper in the IN-DEX group
• Electroencephalogram quality demonstrated less motion artefact in the IN-DEX group
• The rate of very poor or sedation failure was significantly lower in the IN-DEX group
• No major adverse events were documented in either group. Bradycardia occurred in 8/41(19.5%) of children in IN-DEX group and none in TFS group (p = 0.003). Hypotension or poor perfusion were not demonstrated in either group.

Thus, in children with autism undergoing electroencephalograms, IN-DEX was more tolerable than TFS, induced deeper sedation with a greater success rate, and improved electroencephalogram quality. Both sedatives were equally safe in this population.

Reference:

Intranasal dexmedetomidine vs oral triclofos sodium for sedation of children with autism undergoing electroencephalograms by Eytan Kaplan et al. published in the European Journal of Pediatric Neurology

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ejpn.2022.01.005