Oral administration of intravenous solution of midazolam mixed in syrup of paracetamol is an effective way of premedicating children undergoing surgery under general anaesthesia.

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of injection midazolam administered by oral route mixed in paracetamol syrup as a premedication in children undergoing surgery. METHODS: 60 children undergoing elective hernia repair under general anaesthesia were randomized into two groups the study group (group A) was given oral midazolam 0.5 mg/kg (mixed in paracetamol syrup) and the control group (group B) was given just the paracetamol syrup before bringing them inside the operating theater. They were evaluated for ease of separation from their parents, ease of i.v. cannulation and induction, and for recovery time from anaesthesia. RESULTS: it was found that in group A - 96.7% of children showed satisfactory parent child separation while in group B - only 53.3% of children showed satisfactory separation (P < 0.05). Similarly in group A - 73.3 % of children shad satisfactory induction while in group B only 33.3% of children had satisfactory induction. The recovery time from general anaesthesia did not differ in the two groups. No significant peri operative complications directly related to oral midazolam was noted. CONCLUSION: It was concluded that injection midazolam mixed in syrup paracetamol administered orally is a convenient and efficient method of premedicating children undergoing general anaesthesia. Parent-child separation and induction of anaesthesia was smooth and the recovery uneventful in children premedicated with oral midazolam.