A comparison of midazolam and zolpidem as oral premedication in children, a prospective randomized double-blinded clinical trial.

BACKGROUND: Anxiety associated with pediatric surgery can be stressful. Midazolam is a well-accepted anxiolytic in this setting. However, there are cases in which this medication is not effective. Zolpidem is a short-acting nonbenzodiazepine hypnotic drug that is administered orally and has quick onset of action (~15 minutes), and 2-3 hour duration. AIMS: Based on the theory that impaired perception following oral zolpidem administration would suppress the development of anxiety, we sought to compare zolpidem to midazolam for pediatric preoperative anxiety. METHODS: This prospective randomized double-blinded clinical trial was designed to compare the effectiveness of oral midazolam and zolpidem for anxiety premedication. Eighty ASA class I-II pediatric patients between 2 and 9 years old, surgery >2 hours, and at least 23 hours postoperative admission were included in the study. Randomization was done with 0.5 mg/kg midazolam or 0.25 mg/kg zolpidem administered orally. The primary outcome measure was between group difference in patient anxiety at the time of separation using the Modified Yale Preoperative Anxiety Scale. Secondary outcomes included emergence delirium and mask acceptance at induction. RESULTS: There was no significant difference in Modified Yale Preoperative Anxiety Scale scores at separation between midazolam (median/interquartile range = 26.7/23.3-36.6) and zolpidem (median/interquartile range = 30.0/23.3-56.6) groups, difference 0.01 (95% CI -3E-5 , 3E-2 ; P = 0.07). Mask acceptance score was significantly better in the midazolam group. There was no significant difference in emergence delirium scores between groups. CONCLUSION: This study demonstrates that zolpidem, as dosed, was similar to midazolam with regard to anxiety scoring, and inferior with regard to mask acceptance scores.

Challenges in paediatric ambulatory anesthesia.

PURPOSE OF REVIEW: Clinical studies and new guidelines are frequently being published in the area of preoperative fasting. A growing population of patients with obstructive sleep apnea is being referred for outpatient procedures including adenotonsillectomy. RECENT FINDINGS: Recently published preoperative fasting guidelines for pediatric patients are covered along with studies comparing gastric volume following different fasting intervals. Pediatric obstructive sleep apnea is discussed. Clinical presentation, severity, perioperative risks, and controversies as whether outpatient procedures are suitable for these patients are presented. New data covering different perioperative aspects are presented. SUMMARY: A more liberal preoperative intake is encouraged with fasting for 2 h for clear liquids, 4  h for breast milk, 6  h for formula and light meals, and 8  h for heavy meals is widely accepted. Interpersonal variation in residual gastric volume exists. Children with obstructive sleep apnea under 3 years of age and those with severe obstructive sleep apnea and comorbidities are not candidates for ambulatory surgery. Polysomnography has specific preoperative indications. Dexmedetomidine can decrease emergence agitation and has an opioid-sparing effect. Intravenous acetaminophen is presented as an opioid-sparing analgesic. Dexamethasone is effective in preventing postoperative nausea without increased risk of bleeding. Surgical techniques may affect postoperative pain.

An 11-year, single-institution analysis of intra-aortic balloon pump use in cardiac surgery.

OBJECTIVES: The primary objective of this study was to analyze perioperative intra-aortic balloon pump (IABP) insertion in patients undergoing cardiac surgery in the authors' institution from 1995 to 2005 and to propose an explanation for changes in use over this period. A secondary objective was to assess patient variables associated with IABP use. DESIGN: This is a retrospective study including patients who underwent cardiac surgery between 1995 and 2005. SETTING: The Cardiothoracic Anesthesia Patient Registry of a single teaching institution was queried to obtain the required information. PARTICIPANTS: Thirty thousand two hundred sixty-nine cardiac surgery patients. INTERVENTIONS: Intra-aortic balloon pump insertion before surgery, after cardiopulmonary bypass, or in the cardiovascular intensive care unit was assessed in patients who underwent isolated coronary artery bypass graft surgery, valve surgery, or both. Select patient variables were analyzed for their association with IABP insertion. Transesophageal echocardiography (TEE) examinations, milrinone use, and mortality rates also were determined. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: Among 30,269 cardiac surgery patients, 1,310 (4.32%) underwent IABP insertion. Combined preoperative, intraoperative, and postoperative IABP use decreased from 7.8% in 1995 to 3.0% in 2005. Simultaneously, the intraoperative use of milrinone increased from 4.8% to 8.8% and postoperative use increased from 5.2% to 7.8%. The number of intraoperative TEE examinations more than doubled from approximately 1,700 to 3,500. The overall mortality for patients with preoperative, intraoperative, and postoperative IABP insertion was 12.6%, 17.5%, and 47.7%, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: From 1995 to 2005, preoperative, intraoperative, and postoperative IABP use decreased by approximately 60% in cardiac surgery patients. Simultaneously, the use of TEE and milrinone each doubled. Although a cause-effect relationship cannot be established from the present study's observational data, the trends coincide and may be related.