Pediatric Delirium

July 13, 2026 updated by: R. Ian Richmond, University of Massachusetts, Worcester

Prevention of Emergence Delirium in Pediatric Ambulatory Surgery: Single Blinded Randomized Control Study Comparing Intra-nasal Dexmedetomidine With Oral Midazolam.

Preventing emergent delirium in pediatric ambulatory surgery through preoperative use of intra-nasal Dexmedetomidine and oral Midazolam.

Study Overview

Status

Status

Indicates the current recruitment status or the expanded access status.
Enrolling by invitation

Conditions

Conditions

The disease, disorder, syndrome, illness, or injury that is being studied. On ClinicalTrials.gov, conditions may also include other health-related issues, such as lifespan, quality of life, and health risks.

Intervention / Treatment

Intervention / Treatment

A process or action that is the focus of a clinical study. Interventions include drugs, medical devices, procedures, vaccines, and other products that are either investigational or already available. Interventions can also include noninvasive approaches, such as education or modifying diet and exercise.

Detailed Description

Pediatric ambulatory patients will randomly be allocated to one of two groups. Group A which will receive Dexmedetomidine intra-nasally at a dose of 1 mcg/kg, approximately 15-25 minutes before entering the operating room or Group B which will receive Midazolam orally at a dose of 0.5 mg/kg (with a maximum dose of 20 mg), approximately 10-15 minutes before entering the operating room. Each subject will receive a Drug Acceptance scale, and Parental Separation Anxiety Scale (PSAS) mask Acceptance Scale to identify the differences in markers associated with pediatric delirium. End tidal Sevoflurane value during the surgery and at the time when patient leaves the OR, amount and dose of oral/rectal acetaminophen given in PACU, child's behavior for 48 hours post-operatively, and documented intake of oral analgesics will be collected to identify the reduced need for post-operative analgesia and behaviors associated with extended pediatric delirium.

Study Type

Study Type

Describes the nature of a clinical study. Study types include interventional studies (also called clinical trials), observational studies (including patient registries), and expanded access.
Interventional

Enrollment (Estimated)

Enrollment

The number of participants in a clinical study. The "anticipated" enrollment is the target number of participants that the researchers need for the study.
60

Phase

Phase

The stage of a clinical trial studying a drug or biological product, based on definitions developed by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). The phase is based on the study's objective, the number of participants, and other characteristics. There are five phases: Early Phase 1 (formerly listed as Phase 0), Phase 1, Phase 2, Phase 3, and Phase 4. Not Applicable is used to describe trials without FDA-defined phases, including trials of devices or behavioral interventions.
  • Phase 4

Contacts and Locations

This section provides the contact details for those conducting the study, and information on where this study is being conducted.

Study Contact

Study Contact

The name and contact information for the person who can answer enrollment questions for a clinical study. Each location where the study is being conducted may also have a specific contact, who may be better able to answer those questions.

Study Contact Backup

Study Locations

  • United States
    • Massachusetts
      • Worcester, Massachusetts, United States, 01655
        • University of Massachusetts Medical School

Participation Criteria

Researchers look for people who fit a certain description, called eligibility criteria. Some examples of these criteria are a person's general health condition or prior treatments.

Eligibility Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

The key requirements that people who want to participate in a clinical study must meet or the characteristics they must have. Eligibility criteria consist of both inclusion criteria (which are required for a person to participate in the study) and exclusion criteria (which prevent a person from participating). Types of eligibility criteria include whether a study accepts healthy volunteers, has age or age group requirements, or is limited by sex.

Ages Eligible for Study

3 months to 9 years (Child)

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Yes

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

  • Subjects age 3 months to 9 years
  • Scheduled to undergo a myringotomy
  • American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) classification of I - II.

Exclusion Criteria:

  • Subjects with unrepaired cardiac defects, including cyanotic congenital heart disease.
  • Anyone age 10 years or older.
  • Anyone with an ASA classification of III or higher.
  • Non-English language speaker for whom short form consent is not available.

Study Plan

This section provides details of the study plan, including how the study is designed and what the study is measuring.

How is the study designed?

Design Details

  • Primary Purpose: Prevention
  • Allocation: Randomized
  • Interventional Model: Parallel Assignment
  • Masking: Double

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm

Participant Group / Arm

A group or subgroup of participants in a clinical trial that receives a specific intervention/treatment, or no intervention, according to the trial's protocol.
Intervention / Treatment

Intervention / Treatment

A process or action that is the focus of a clinical study. Interventions include drugs, medical devices, procedures, vaccines, and other products that are either investigational or already available. Interventions can also include noninvasive approaches, such as education or modifying diet and exercise.
Experimental: Intra-nasal Dexmedetomidine
Subjects will receive Dexmedetomidine intra-nasally in the preoperative area. It will be administered at a dose of 1 mcg/kg, approximately 15-25 minutes before entering the operating room.
Drug: Intra-nasal Dexmedetomidine
Subjects will receive Dexmedetomidine intra-nasally in the preoperative area. It will be administered at a dose of 1 mcg/kg, approximately 15-25 minutes before entering the operating room.
Other Names:
  • Precedex
Active Comparator: Oral Midazolam
Subjects will receive Midazolam orally in the preoperative area. It will be administered at a dose of 0.5 mg/kg (with a maximum dose of 20 mg), approximately 10-15 minutes before entering the operating room.
Drug: Oral Midazolam
Subjects will receive Midazolam orally in the preoperative area. It will be administered at a dose of 0.5 mg/kg (with a maximum dose of 20 mg), approximately 10-15 minutes before entering the operating room.
Other Names:
  • Midazolam

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Primary Outcome Measures

In a clinical study's protocol, the planned outcome measure that is the most important for evaluating the effect of an intervention/treatment. Most clinical studies have one primary outcome measure, but some have more than one.
Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Time to onset of pediatric delirium
Time Frame: Zero minutes to 48 hours
Time from when the patient is woken from anesthesia to the onset of delirium.
Zero minutes to 48 hours
Time to offset of pediatric delirium
Time Frame: Zero minutes to 48 hours
Time from onset of delirium to the offset of delirium.
Zero minutes to 48 hours
Duration of pediatric delirium
Time Frame: Zero minutes to 48 hours
Total time patient experiences delirium
Zero minutes to 48 hours

Secondary Outcome Measures

Secondary Outcome Measures

In a clinical study's protocol, a planned outcome measure that is not as important as the primary outcome measure for evaluating the effect of an intervention but is still of interest. Most clinical studies have more than one secondary outcome measure.
Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Drug Acceptance
Time Frame: 10-25 minutes prior to surgery
The willingness of the subject to take the drug was assessed in the pre-operative area
10-25 minutes prior to surgery
Parental Separation Anxiety Scale (PSAS)
Time Frame: 0-48 hours
Anxiety score was determined when the child was separated from the parents according to four levels.
0-48 hours
Mask Acceptance Scale
Time Frame: 1-10 minutes prior to surgery
The child's acceptance of the mask by the anesthesiologist was rated as follows.
1-10 minutes prior to surgery
End tidal Sevoflurane value
Time Frame: 0-12 hours
During the surgery and at the time when patient leaves the OR End tidal Sevoflurane value will be documented.
0-12 hours
Rescue analgesia in PACU
Time Frame: 0-6 hours post surgery
The amount and dose of oral/rectal acetaminophen given in PACU was recorded.
0-6 hours post surgery
Home Behavior Analysis
Time Frame: 12-48 hours
The child's parents were given a diary to document their behavior for 48 hours post-operatively at home.
12-48 hours
Oral analgesic use
Time Frame: Two days post-operative
Document intake of oral analgesics like acetaminophen or ibuprofen
Two days post-operative

Collaborators and Investigators

This is where you will find people and organizations involved with this study.

Sponsor

Sponsor

The organization or person who initiates the study and who has authority and control over the study.
University of Massachusetts, Worcester

Investigators

Investigators

A researcher involved in a clinical study. Related terms include site principal investigator, site sub-investigator, study chair, study director, and study principal investigator.
  • Principal Investigator: R. Ian Richmond, MD, University of Massachusetts, Worcester

Study record dates

These dates track the progress of study record and summary results submissions to ClinicalTrials.gov. Study records and reported results are reviewed by the National Library of Medicine (NLM) to make sure they meet specific quality control standards before being posted on the public website.

Study Major Dates

Study Start (Actual)

Study Start

The actual date on which the first participant was enrolled in a clinical study. The "anticipated" study start date is the date that the researchers think will be the study start date.
April 27, 2021

Primary Completion (Estimated)

Primary Completion

The date on which the last participant in a clinical study was examined or received an intervention to collect final data for the primary outcome measure. Whether the clinical study ended according to the protocol or was terminated does not affect this date. For clinical studies with more than one primary outcome measure with different completion dates, this term refers to the date on which data collection is completed for all the primary outcome measures. The "anticipated" primary completion date is the date that the researchers think will be the primary completion date for the study.
April 5, 2027

Study Completion (Estimated)

Study Completion

The date on which the last participant in a clinical study was examined or received an intervention/treatment to collect final data for the primary outcome measures, secondary outcome measures, and adverse events (that is, the last participant's last visit). The "anticipated" study completion date is the date that the researchers think will be the study completion date.
April 5, 2027

Study Registration Dates

First Submitted

First Submitted

The date on which the study sponsor or investigator first submitted a study record to ClinicalTrials.gov. There is typically a delay of a few days between the first submitted date and the record's availability on ClinicalTrials.gov (the first posted date).
December 9, 2020

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

The date on which the study sponsor or investigator first submits a study record that is consistent with National Library of Medicine (NLM) quality control (QC) review criteria. The sponsor or investigator may need to revise and submit a study record one or more times before NLM's QC review criteria are met. It is the responsibility of the sponsor or investigator to ensure that the study record is consistent with the NLM QC review criteria.
December 9, 2020

First Posted (Actual)

First Posted

The date on which the study record was first available on ClinicalTrials.gov after National Library of Medicine (NLM) quality control (QC) review has concluded. There is typically a delay of a few days between the date the study sponsor or investigator submitted the study record and the first posted date.
December 16, 2020

Study Record Updates

Last Update Posted (Actual)

Last Update Posted

The most recent date on which changes to a study record were made available on ClinicalTrials.gov. There may be a delay between when the changes were submitted to ClinicalTrials.gov by the study's sponsor or investigator (the last update submitted date) and the last update posted date.
July 15, 2026

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

The most recent date on which the study sponsor or investigator submitted changes to a study record that are consistent with National Library of Medicine (NLM) quality control (QC) review criteria. It is the responsibility of the sponsor or investigator to ensure that the study record is consistent with the NLM QC review criteria.
July 13, 2026

Last Verified

Last Verified

The most recent date on which the study sponsor or investigator confirmed the information about a clinical study on ClinicalTrials.gov as accurate and current. If a study with a recruitment status of recruiting; not yet recruiting; or active, not recruiting has not been confirmed within the past 2 years, the study's recruitment status is shown as unknown.
July 1, 2026

More Information

Terms related to this study

Additional Relevant MeSH Terms

Other Study ID Numbers

Other Study ID Numbers

Identifiers or ID numbers other than the NCT number that are assigned to a clinical study by the study's sponsor, funders, or others. These numbers may include unique identifiers from other trial registries and National Institutes of Health grant numbers.
  • H00021788

Plan for Individual participant data (IPD)

Plan to Share Individual Participant Data (IPD)?

NO

IPD Plan Description

Data will be shared via publication as group data.

Drug and device information, study documents

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product

Yes

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product

No

product manufactured in and exported from the U.S.

Yes

This information was retrieved directly from the website clinicaltrials.gov without any changes. If you have any requests to change, remove or update your study details, please contact register@clinicaltrials.gov. As soon as a change is implemented on clinicaltrials.gov, this will be updated automatically on our website as well.

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