Intranasal Dexmedetomidine vs Oral Midazolam for Premedication in Pediatric Surgery

May 11, 2026 updated by: Siyament cangir, Saglik Bilimleri Universitesi Gazi Yasargil Training and Research Hospital

Comparison of Intranasal Dexmedetomidine and Oral Midazolam for Premedication in Pediatric Patients Undergoing Elective Inguinal and Urological Surgery: A Prospective, Randomized, Double-Blind, Controlled Trial

This study aims to compare the effects of intranasal dexmedetomidine and oral midazolam as premedication in pediatric patients undergoing elective inguinal and urological surgery under general anesthesia.

Premedication plays a critical role in reducing preoperative anxiety, facilitating parent-child separation, and improving cooperation during anesthesia induction in pediatric patients. While oral midazolam is widely used, it has several limitations, including variable bioavailability and the risk of paradoxical reactions. Intranasal dexmedetomidine has emerged as a promising alternative due to its sedative, anxiolytic, and minimal respiratory depressant effects.

In this prospective, randomized, double-blind, controlled study, patients aged 2-10 years will be assigned to receive either intranasal dexmedetomidine or oral midazolam prior to anesthesia induction. The primary outcome is the proportion of patients achieving adequate sedation at induction, defined as a Ramsay Sedation Score (RSS) ≥2.

Secondary outcomes include perioperative hemodynamic stability, parent-child separation anxiety, mask acceptance during induction, postoperative emergence agitation, recovery time, and the need for rescue sedation.

Study Overview

Status

Recruiting

Conditions

Intervention / Treatment

Detailed Description

This prospective, randomized, double-blind, controlled clinical trial aims to compare intranasal dexmedetomidine and oral midazolam as premedication in pediatric patients undergoing elective inguinal and urological surgery under general anesthesia.

Premedication is essential in pediatric anesthesia to reduce preoperative anxiety, facilitate parent-child separation, and improve cooperation during anesthesia induction. Oral midazolam is widely used but has limitations such as variable bioavailability and potential adverse behavioral effects. Dexmedetomidine, a selective α2-adrenoreceptor agonist, has emerged as an alternative due to its sedative, anxiolytic, and minimal respiratory depressant effects.

Eligible pediatric patients will be prospectively enrolled and randomly assigned to receive either intranasal dexmedetomidine or oral midazolam. A double-blind design will be maintained by administering both oral and intranasal preparations in each group. Premedication will be administered prior to anesthesia induction, and perioperative clinical parameters will be recorded.

This study is expected to provide clinically relevant evidence regarding the effectiveness and safety of intranasal dexmedetomidine compared to oral midazolam, potentially contributing to improved premedication strategies in pediatric anesthesia.

Study Type

Interventional

Enrollment (Estimated)

84

Phase

  • Not Applicable

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 Backup

Study Locations

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

Ages Eligible for Study

  • Child

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

No

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

  • Pediatric patients aged 2-10 years
  • ASA physical status I-II
  • Scheduled for elective inguinal or urological surgery under general anesthesia
  • Both male and female patients
  • Written informed consent obtained from parents or legal guardians

Exclusion Criteria:

  • Known allergy or hypersensitivity to dexmedetomidine or midazolam
  • Presence of significant systemic disease or organ dysfunction
  • Cardiac arrhythmia or congenital heart disease
  • Neurological or behavioral disorders, including developmental delay
  • Chronic use of analgesics or other medications that may affect study outcomes
  • Anticipated difficult airway
  • Nasal pathology that may interfere with intranasal drug administration
  • Emergency surgery
  • Inability to obtain written informed consent from parents or legal guardians

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: Treatment
  • Allocation: Randomized
  • Interventional Model: Parallel Assignment
  • Masking: Double

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm
Intervention / Treatment
Active Comparator: Midazolam Group
Participants in this group will receive oral midazolam at a dose of 0.5 mg/kg (maximum 15 mg) as premedication 30 minutes prior to anesthesia induction, along with intranasal placebo to maintain blinding. This approach ensures consistent administration routes across study groups.
Drug: Midazolam
Oral midazolam administered at a dose of 0.5 mg/kg (maximum 15 mg) approximately 30 minutes prior to anesthesia induction for premedication in pediatric patients.
Other Names:
  • Dormicum
Experimental: Dexmedetomidine Group
Participants in this group will receive intranasal dexmedetomidine at a dose of 2 mcg/kg (maximum 200 mcg) as premedication prior to anesthesia induction, along with oral placebo to maintain blinding.
Drug: Dexmedetomidine
Intranasal dexmedetomidine administered at a dose of 2 mcg/kg (maximum 200 mcg) approximately 30 minutes prior to anesthesia induction for premedication in pediatric patients.
Other Names:
  • Precedex

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Proportion of patients achieving adequate sedation at anesthesia induction
Time Frame: Approximately 30 minutes after premedication, at anesthesia induction
Adequate sedation is defined as a Ramsay Sedation Score (RSS) ≥2 assessed immediately before mask application at the time of anesthesia induction
Approximately 30 minutes after premedication, at anesthesia induction

Secondary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Parent-child separation anxiety score
Time Frame: At parent-child separation before anesthesia induction

Parent-child separation anxiety will be assessed using the Parental Separation Anxiety Scale (PSAS). The scale ranges from 1 to 4, where 1 indicates "calm/easy separation" and 4 indicates "crying/extreme difficulty in separation." Higher scores represent worse outcomes (higher levels of anxiety). A score of >2 is defined as significant separation anxiety.

Unit of Measure: Units on a scale
At parent-child separation before anesthesia induction
Mask acceptance at induction
Time Frame: At the time of mask application during anesthesia induction
Mask acceptance will be assessed using the Mask Acceptance Scale (MAS ) at the time of mask application during anesthesia induction. Mask Acceptance will be defined as WDS 1-2.
At the time of mask application during anesthesia induction
Postoperative emergence agitation
Time Frame: At PACU admission, at 5 and 10 minutes, and then every 10 minutes until Aldrete score is ≥9
Emergence agitation will be assessed using the Watcha Behavior Scale (WDS). Agitation will be defined as WDS >2.
At PACU admission, at 5 and 10 minutes, and then every 10 minutes until Aldrete score is ≥9
Need for rescue sedation
Time Frame: From premedication until anesthesia induction
Requirement for rescue sedation during the preoperative period will be recorded as yes/no.
From premedication until anesthesia induction
PACU recovery time
Time Frame: During PACU stay until discharge criteria are met
Recovery time will be defined as the time from admission to the post-anesthesia care unit until achievement of Aldrete score ≥9.
During PACU stay until discharge criteria are met
Postoperative pain score
Time Frame: At PACU admission, at 5 and 10 minutes, and then every 10 minutes until Aldrete score is ≥9
Postoperative pain will be assessed using the FLACC scale.
At PACU admission, at 5 and 10 minutes, and then every 10 minutes until Aldrete score is ≥9
Extubation time
Time Frame: Intraoperative to immediate postoperative period
Extubation time will be defined as the interval from discontinuation of volatile anesthetic to removal of the endotracheal tube.
Intraoperative to immediate postoperative period
Mean Arterial Pressure (MAP)
Time Frame: At baseline (pre-induction), every 5 minutes during the intraoperative period (approx. 30-60 min), and every 5 minutes during the PACU stay until discharge (approx. 120 min).

Mean arterial pressure (MAP) will be monitored to evaluate hemodynamic stability during the perioperative period.

Unit of Measure: mmHg
At baseline (pre-induction), every 5 minutes during the intraoperative period (approx. 30-60 min), and every 5 minutes during the PACU stay until discharge (approx. 120 min).
Heart Rate (HR)
Time Frame: At baseline (pre-induction), every 5 minutes during the intraoperative period (approx. 30-60 min), and every 5 minutes during the PACU stay until discharge (approx. 120 min).

Heart rate (HR) will be recorded to monitor cardiac stability and response to anesthesia.

Unit of Measure: Beats per minute (bpm)
At baseline (pre-induction), every 5 minutes during the intraoperative period (approx. 30-60 min), and every 5 minutes during the PACU stay until discharge (approx. 120 min).
Oxygen Saturation (SpO2)
Time Frame: At baseline (pre-induction), every 5 minutes during the intraoperative period (approx. 30-60 min), and every 5 minutes during the PACU stay until discharge (approx. 120 min).

SpO2 levels will be monitored via pulse oximetry to evaluate respiratory and hemodynamic status.

Unit of Measure: Percentage (%)
At baseline (pre-induction), every 5 minutes during the intraoperative period (approx. 30-60 min), and every 5 minutes during the PACU stay until discharge (approx. 120 min).

Collaborators and Investigators

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

Sponsor

Saglik Bilimleri Universitesi Gazi Yasargil Training and Research Hospital

Investigators

  • Study Director: Fatma Acil, M.D., Saglik Bilimleri Universitesi Gazi Yasargil Training and Research Hospital

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)

May 5, 2026

Primary Completion (Estimated)

August 1, 2026

Study Completion (Estimated)

September 26, 2026

Study Registration Dates

First Submitted

April 13, 2026

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

April 27, 2026

First Posted (Actual)

May 4, 2026

Study Record Updates

Last Update Posted (Actual)

May 14, 2026

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

May 11, 2026

Last Verified

May 1, 2026

More Information

Terms related to this study

Keywords

Additional Relevant MeSH Terms

Other Study ID Numbers

  • 27/01/2026-35

Plan for Individual participant data (IPD)

Plan to Share Individual Participant Data (IPD)?

YES

IPD Plan Description

De-identified individual participant data that underlie the results reported in this article (text, tables, figures, and appendices) will be shared.

IPD Sharing Time Frame

Starting 6 months and ending 36 months following article publication.

IPD Sharing Access Criteria

Data will be available to researchers who provide a methodologically sound proposal. Proposals should be directed to acilfatma@gmail.com

IPD Sharing Supporting Information Type

  • STUDY_PROTOCOL
  • ICF

Drug and device information, study documents

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product

No

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product

No

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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