Sedation and Analgesia Using Medications Delivered via the Extravascular Route in Children Undergoing Laceration Repair

Abstract

Objectives: To describe the method of delivery, dosage regimens, and outcomes of sedatives and analgesics administered via the extravascular route for laceration repair in children.

Methods: Medline, Embase, and International Pharmaceutical Abstracts were searched using the keywords "child," "midazolam," "ketamine," dexmedetomidine," "fentanyl," "nitrous oxide" (N2O), and "laceration repair." Articles evaluating the use of extravascular sedation in children for laceration repair published in the English language between 1946 and June 2017 were included. Two authors independently screened each article for inclusion. Reports were excluded if they did not contain sufficient details on dosage regimen and outcomes.

Results: A total of 16 reports representing 953 children receiving sedatives and analgesics via the extravascular route were included for analyses. A statistical analysis was not performed because of heterogeneity in dosing and types of analyses conducted. Midazolam and N2O were the most common agents, with oral (PO) midazolam being the most common agent. Other agents that have supporting data were intranasal (IN) dexmedetomidine, IN ketamine, IN midazolam, PO diazepam, PO ketamine, transmucosal (TM) midazolam, and TM fentanyl.

Conclusions: Most of the agents administered through the extravascular route were efficacious. Selection of the agents should be based on perceived need for analgesia versus sedation, patient accessibility, and adverse drug events. Future research is needed to determine the optimal agent and route for laceration repair.

Keywords: analgesia; child; dexmedetomidine; fentanyl; ketamine; midazolam; nitrous oxide; sedation.

Conflict of interest statement

Disclosure No authors declare conflicts or financial interest in any product or service mentioned in the manuscript, including grants, equipment, medications, employment, gifts, and honoraria.