Preoperative sedation in children with congenital heart disease: 50% and 95% effective doses, hemodynamic effects, and safety of intranasal dexmedetomidine

Study objectiveTo determine the 50% and 95% effective doses (ED50 and ED95, respectively), hemodynamic effects, and safety of intranasal dexmedetomidine for preoperative sedation in pediatric patients with congenital heart disease (CHD) with a left-to-right shunt.DesignDouble-blind sequential allocation trial.SettingPediatric preoperative waiting area.Patients86 pediatric patients ASA physical status II–III scheduled for cardiac surgery, aged1-month to 6-years-old with left-to-right type CHD.InterventionsChildren were divided into three groups according to age: infants (1 month–1 year), toddlers (1–3 years), and preschoolers (3–6 years). The first patient in all groups received intranasal dexmedetomidine (2 μg/kg), using the up-and-down Dixon method, and the and the next patient's dose was dependent on the previous patient's response.MeasurementsAssessment using the Modified Observer's Assessment of Alertness/Sedation Scale and the Mask Acceptance Scale was performed before and every 5 min after treatment. Pulse oxygen saturation and heart rate were recorded at baseline, at 10-min intervals, and after admission to the operating room. Systolic pulmonary artery pressure was measured before anesthesia induction.Main resultsThe respective ED50 (95% confidence interval [CI]) and ED95 (95% CI) values for preoperative sedation using intranasally administered dexmedetomidine were 3.1 (2.8–3.3) and 3.5 (3.3–4.0) μg/kg for infants; 3.4 (3.2–3.6) and 3.9 (3.7–4.4) μg/kg for toddlers; and 2.4 (2.2–2.6) and 2.9 (2.6–3.3) μg/kg for preschoolers. ED50 was lower for preschoolers than for toddlers (p < 0.001) and infants (p = 0.044). No obvious difference in ED50 was found between infants and toddlers. There was no significant difference in sedation onset time among the groups, and no adverse events were observed during sedation in all patients.ConclusionsIntranasal dexmedetomidine can be safety used for preoperative sedation inchildren with CHD and is effective for sedation when dosed appropriately.Trial registration clinicaltrials.gov (ChiCTR2100047472); registered 20 June 2021.