- Home
- Medical news & Guidelines
- Anesthesiology
- Cardiology and CTVS
- Critical Care
- Dentistry
- Dermatology
- Diabetes and Endocrinology
- ENT
- Gastroenterology
- Medicine
- Nephrology
- Neurology
- Obstretics-Gynaecology
- Oncology
- Ophthalmology
- Orthopaedics
- Pediatrics-Neonatology
- Psychiatry
- Pulmonology
- Radiology
- Surgery
- Urology
- Laboratory Medicine
- Diet
- Nursing
- Paramedical
- Physiotherapy
- Health news
- AYUSH
- State News
- Andaman and Nicobar Islands
- Andhra Pradesh
- Arunachal Pradesh
- Assam
- Bihar
- Chandigarh
- Chattisgarh
- Dadra and Nagar Haveli
- Daman and Diu
- Delhi
- Goa
- Gujarat
- Haryana
- Himachal Pradesh
- Jammu & Kashmir
- Jharkhand
- Karnataka
- Kerala
- Ladakh
- Lakshadweep
- Madhya Pradesh
- Maharashtra
- Manipur
- Meghalaya
- Mizoram
- Nagaland
- Odisha
- Puducherry
- Punjab
- Rajasthan
- Sikkim
- Tamil Nadu
- Telangana
- Tripura
- Uttar Pradesh
- Uttrakhand
- West Bengal
- Medical Education
- Industry
What are Alternatives to Using Midazolam as Anaesthetic Premedication in Children?
Recently published paper explores the use of midazolam as a premedication in pediatric surgery, discussing its benefits in reducing preoperative anxiety and its potential adverse effects. It highlights the prevalence of preoperative anxiety in pediatric patients and emphasizes the importance of addressing it to improve outcomes. The paper presents both pharmacological and...
Recently published paper explores the use of midazolam as a premedication in pediatric surgery, discussing its benefits in reducing preoperative anxiety and its potential adverse effects. It highlights the prevalence of preoperative anxiety in pediatric patients and emphasizes the importance of addressing it to improve outcomes. The paper presents both pharmacological and non-pharmacological options for preoperative anxiety treatment, discussing the efficacy of midazolam, its side effects, and the potential long-term neurodevelopmental impact of prolonged exposure to benzodiazepines.
Pharmacokinetics and Effects of Midazolam
The authors review the pharmacokinetics and effects of midazolam, including its mode of action, dosing, and potential side effects such as respiratory depression and paradoxical reactions. They acknowledge the strong anxiolytic and sedative effects of midazolam, which have been widely used in pediatric surgery but also raise concerns about potential neurodevelopmental changes and the FDA warning labels for anesthetic drugs in children under three years of age.
Evidence for and Against Midazolam Use in Pediatric Surgery
The paper discusses the evidence for and against using midazolam, considering its efficacy in reducing preoperative anxiety and adverse outcomes, as well as the emerging concerns about its potential neurotoxic effects. It also examines non-pharmacologic alternatives such as parental presence at induction of anesthesia, distraction techniques, and preprocedural educational programs. The authors also compare midazolam with alternative medications like clonidine, dexmedetomidine, and ketamine, as well as opioids.
Weighing Benefits and Risks of Midazolam Use
The paper emphasizes the need to weigh the benefits of midazolam in reducing anxiety and facilitating anesthesia induction in pediatric patients against the potential risks associated with its use. It acknowledges the evolving understanding of the risks and benefits of midazolam and other anesthetic options and highlights the importance of individualized patient care and a patient-centered approach in pediatricanesthesia.
Reference –
Lethin M, Paluska M R, Petersen T R, et al. (December 11, 2023) Midazolam for Anesthetic Premedication in Children: Considerations and Alternatives. Cureus 15(12): e50309. doi:10.7759/cureus.50309.
Dr Kamal Kant Kohli-MBBS, DTCD- a chest specialist with more than 30 years of practice and a flair for writing clinical articles, Dr Kamal Kant Kohli joined Medical Dialogues as a Chief Editor of Medical News. Besides writing articles, as an editor, he proofreads and verifies all the medical content published on Medical Dialogues including those coming from journals, studies,medical conferences,guidelines etc. Email: editorial@medicaldialogues.in. Contact no. 011-43720751