A comparison of single-dose dexmedetomidine or propofol on the incidence of emergence delirium in children undergoing general anaesthesia for magnetic resonance imaging

The Topics and Publication Trends in Emergence Deliri-Um: A Bibliometric Analysis from 2002 to 2022

Background

Emergence delirium is an early postoperative behavior change in pediatric patients, posing risks to patient safety and leading to prolonged hospital stays and increased medical costs. As a result, the research on emergence delirium has grown substantially. This study aims to identify the most influential literature, trends, and topics in emergence delirium research, as well as to quantify the fundamental data of academic publications on this topic.

Methods

We searched for articles on emergence delirium in the Science Citation Index Expanded databases, covering the period from 2002 to 2022. Bibliographic information, including countries, institutions, journals, authorships, references, and keywords, was collected for further analysis.

Results

A total of 739 articles on emergence delirium published between 2002 and 2022 were collected. China emerged as the most prolific publisher in this field, accounting for over 30% of all articles (226 publications), followed by the United States (n = 143) and South Korea (n = 92). The top three productive journals were Pediatric anesthesia (n=78, IF=2.129), Anesthesia and Analgesia (n=28, IF=6.627), and BMC Anesthesiology (n=28, IF=2.583). Yonsei University was the most active institution, with 22 publications related to emergence delirium. Among authors, Kin, Hee-Soo (n = 9) published the most articles in this field, followed by Yao, Yusheng (n = 7), Lee, Ji-Hyun (n = 7). The prominent topics in emergence delirium research during the past two decades were "children", "emergence delirium" and "propofol".

Conclusion

Through bibliometric analysis, this study provides a comprehensive overview of the trends and developments in the field of emergence delirium over the past two decades. The results demonstrate a significant growth in emergence delirium research worldwide, with China leading in the number of publications. Despite the wealth of literature on strategies for preventing and managing emergence delirium in clinical settings, further basic research is needed to elucidate the underlying mechanisms of emergence delirium.

Effects of Dezocine on the Reduction of Emergence Delirium after Laparoscopic Surgery: A Retrospective Propensity Score-Matched Cohort Study

In China, dezocine is commonly employed as a partial agonist of mu/kappa opioid receptors during anesthesia induction for surgical patients, yet evidence supporting its causal association with emergence delirium is limited. The objective of this investigation was to evaluate the impact of intravenous dezocine administered during anesthesia induction on emergence delirium. The retrospective studied existing data containing medical records of patients undergoing an elective laparoscopy procedure and the study was conducted with ethics-board approval. The primary outcome was the incidence of emergence delirium. Secondary outcomes included the VAS in the PACU and 24 h after surgery, the RASS score in the PACU, postoperative MMSE, hospital stay, and ICU stay. A total of 681 patients were analyzed, after being propensity score-matched, the dezocine and non-dezocine group each had 245 patients. Emergence delirium occurred in 26/245 (10.6%) of patients who received dezocine and 41/245 (16.7%) of patients did not receive dezocine. Patients on whom dezocine was used were associated with a significantly lower incidence of emergence delirium (absolute risk difference, −6.1%, 95% CI, −12% to −0.2%; relative risk [RR], 0.63; 95% CI, 0.18–0.74). All secondary outcome measures and adverse outcomes were not significantly different. The use of dezocine during anesthesia induction was associated with a decreased incidence of emergence delirium after elective laparoscopic surgeries.

Comparing Smartphone Virtual Reality Exposure Preparation to Care as Usual in Children Aged 6 to 14 Years Undergoing Magnetic Resonance Imaging: Protocol for a Multicenter, Observer-Blinded, Randomized Controlled Trial

BACKGROUND

A magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) procedure can cause preprocedural and periprocedural anxiety in children. Psychosocial interventions are used to prepare children for the procedure to alleviate anxiety, but these interventions are time-consuming and costly, limiting their clinical use. Virtual reality (VR) is a promising way to overcome these limitations in the preparation of children before an MRI scan.

OBJECTIVE

The objective of this study is (1) to develop a VR smartphone intervention to prepare children at home for an MRI procedure; and (2) to examine the effect of the VR intervention in a randomized controlled trial, in which the VR intervention will be compared to care as usual (CAU). CAU involves an information letter about an MRI examination. The primary outcome is the child's procedural anxiety during the MRI procedure. Secondary outcomes include preprocedural anxiety and parental anxiety. We hypothesize that the VR preparation will result in a higher reduction of the periprocedural anxiety of both parents and children as compared to CAU.

METHODS

The VR intervention provides a highly realistic and child-friendly representation of an MRI environment. In this randomized controlled trial, 128 children (aged 6 to 14 years) undergoing an MRI scan will be randomly allocated to the VR intervention or CAU. Children in the VR intervention will receive a log-in code for the VR app and are sent cardboard VR glasses.

RESULTS

The VR smartphone preparation app was developed in 2020. The recruitment of participants is expected to be completed in December 2022. Data will be analyzed, and scientific papers will be submitted for publication in 2023.

CONCLUSIONS

The VR smartphone app is expected to significantly reduce pre- and periprocedural anxiety in pediatric patients undergoing an MRI scan. The VR app offers a realistic and child-friendly experience that can contribute to modern care. A smartphone version of the VR app has the advantage that children, and potentially their parents, can get habituated to the VR environment and noises in their own home environment and can do this VR MRI preparation as often and as long as needed.

TRIAL REGISTRATION

ISRCTN Registry ISRCTN20976625; https://www.isrctn.com/ISRCTN20976625.

INTERNATIONAL REGISTERED REPORT IDENTIFIER (IRRID)

DERR1-10.2196/41080.

Relationship between Fasting Times and Emergence Delirium in Children Undergoing Magnetic Resonance Imaging under Sedation

Background and Objectives: This study aimed to determine whether there is a relationship between preoperative fasting time, fasting blood glucose (FBG), and postoperative emergence delirium (ED) in pediatric patients undergoing MRI under sedation. Materials and Methods: 110 pediatric patients were included in the study. Preoperative fasting (solid-fluid) time and FBG were recorded. The development of ED in the patients who underwent MRI under sedation was evaluated with the pediatric anesthesia emergence delirium (PAED) value for 30 min every 5 min in the recovery room. PAED score of ≥10 was grouped as having ED, and a PAED score of <10 as without ED at any time. The PAED scores were compared with other variables, ASA, age, weight, MRI examination time, and FBG level and fasting times. The risk factors affecting the occurrence of ED were examined. Results: Mean age was 3.94 ± 1.53 years, mean FBG was 106.97 ± 12.53 mg/dL, fasting time was 10.75 ± 2.61 h, solid food fasting time was 11.92 ± 2.33 h, and thirst time was 10.74 ± 2.58 h. FBG was never associated with PAED measurement at any time (p > 0.05). There was a weak positive correlation between the fasting time and the 0th, 5th, and 10th minute PAED score (r = 0.225; p = 0.018, r = 0.195; p = 0.041, r = 0.195; p = 0.041). There was a weak positive correlation between the solid food fasting time and the PAED score at the 0th, 5th, 10th, 15th, and 20th minutes (r = 0.382; p < 0.001, r = 0.357; p < 0.001, r = 0.345; p < 0.001, r = 0.360; p < 0.001, r = 0.240; p < 0.001). There was a weak positive correlation between thirst time and the PAED score at the 0th, 5th, and 10th minutes (r = 0.222; p = 0.020. r = 0.192; p = 0.045, r = 0.199; p = 0.037). The incidence of ED at any time was 34.5%. Conclusions: Prolonged fasting time, solid food fasting time and thirst time are risk factors for developing postoperative ED in children undergoing MRI under sedation.

Efficacy of propofol for the prevention of emergence agitation after sevoflurane anaesthesia in children: A meta-analysis

Background

Emergence agitation (EA) is a common postoperative behavioral disorder, predominantly in pediatric patients, after sevoflurane general anesthesia. This study was aimed at assessing propofol's efficacy and clinical conditions established for preventing EA in children under sevoflurane anesthesia.

Methods

Randomized controlled trials (RCTs) that comparatively investigated propofol and control treatment in terms of efficacy and safety on administration at the end of surgery and examinations to prevent EA in children under sevoflurane anesthesia were searched. The sources accessed included PubMed, Embase, Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, and ClinicalTrials.gov. Furthermore, manual searches were performed to identify studies; the last review was conducted on March 21, 2022. When the risk of bias assessment of trials was performed with the Cochrane Risk of Bias Tool, we calculated risk ratios (RRs) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs) for EA incidence and mean differences (MDs) with 95% CI for continuous data.

Results

We included 12 RCTs with 1103 children. EA incidence (RR: 0.51, 95% CI: 0.39 to 0.67) and Pediatric Anesthesia Emergence Delirium scores (MD: −3.14, 95% CI: −4.37 to −1.92) were lower in the propofol group. Subgroup analyses showed lower EA incidences with 3 mg/kg propofol (RR: 0.22, 95% CI: 0.13 to 0.38) without extension of the PACU time (MD: 4.97, 95% CI: −0.84 to 10.78) in the laryngeal mask airway (LMA; RR: 0.52, 95% CI: 0.36 to 0.77) and spontaneous breathing (RR: 0.36, 95% CI: 0.21 to 0.62) groups.

Discussion

We confirmed that a prophylactic dose of propofol prevented EA and decreased its severity in children under sevoflurane anesthesia. Furthermore, several conditions such as 3 mg/kg propofol, LMA, and spontaneous breathing, potentially contributed to EA prevention.

Systematic Review Registration

https://www.crd.york.ac.uk/prospero/display_record.php?RecordID=274692, identifier: PROSPERO (No. CRD42021274692).

Sevoflurane requirements during electroencephalogram (EEG)-guided vs standard anesthesia Care in Children: A randomized controlled trial

STUDY OBJECTIVES

Intra-operative electroencephalographic (EEG) monitoring utilizing the spectrogram allows visualization of children's brain response during anesthesia and may complement routine cardiorespiratory monitoring to facilitate titration of anesthetic doses. We aimed to determine if EEG-guided anesthesia will result in lower sevoflurane requirements, lower incidence of burst suppression and improved emergence characteristics in children undergoing routine general anesthesia, compared to standard care.

DESIGN

Randomized controlled trial.

SETTING

Tertiary pediatric hospital.

PATIENTS

200 children aged 1 to 6 years, ASA 1 or 2, undergoing routine sevoflurane anesthesia for minor surgery lasting 30 to 240 min.

INTERVENTIONS

Children were randomized to either EEG-guided anesthesia (EEG-G) or standard care (SC). EEG-G group had sevoflurane titrated to maintain continuous slow/delta oscillations on the raw EEG and spectrogram, aiming to avoid burst suppression and, as far as possible, maintain a patient state index (PSI) between 25 and50. SC group received standard anesthesia care and the anesthesia teams were blinded to EEG waveforms.

MEASUREMENTS

The primary outcomes were the average end-tidal sevoflurane concentration during induction and maintenance of anesthesia. Secondary outcomes include incidence and duration of intra-operative burst suppression and Pediatric Anesthesia Emergence Delirium (PAED) scores.

RESULTS

The EEG-G group received lower end-tidal sevoflurane concentrations during induction [4.80% vs 5.67%, -0.88% (-1.45, -0.31) p = 0.003] and maintenance of anesthesia [2.23% vs 2.38%, -0.15% (-0.25, -0.05) p = 0.005], and had a lower incidence of burst suppression [3.1% vs 10.9%, p = 0.044] compared to the SC group. PAED scores were similar between groups. Children <2 years old required higher average end-tidal sevoflurane concentrations, regardless of group.

CONCLUSIONS

EEG-guided anesthesia care reduces sevoflurane requirements in children undergoing general anesthesia, possibly lowering the incidence of burst suppression, without altering emergence characteristics. EEG monitoring allows direct visualization of brain responses in real time and allows clearer appreciation of varying sevoflurane requirements in children of different ages.

A Comparison of Dexmedetomidine and Propofol on Emergence Delirium in Children Undergoing Cleft Palate Surgery With Sevoflurane-Based Anesthesia

ABSTRACT

Emergence delirium is a common complication after sevoflurane-anesthesia and have a serious impact on children undergoing cleft palate surgery. The aim of this study was to compare the effect of propofol and dexmedetomidine on emergence delirium in children. Ninety children aged 8 to 24 months, underwent cleft palate repair, were enrolled in the study. Children were randomly assigned to 3 groups after the induction: Group C (intravenous infusion 0.9% saline), Group P (intravenous infusion 2 mg/kg/hour propofol), and Group D (intravenous infusion 0.5 μg/kg/hour dexmedetomidine). Emergence delirium was diagnosed using the pediatric anesthesia emergence delirium scale and pain using the face, legs, activity, cry, consolability scale. Heart rate, mean arterial pressure, respiratory recovery time, extubation time, post anesthesia care unit observation time, and adverse events were also evaluated. A total of 86 patients were analyzed. The incidence of emergence delirium was 20.1% in group D, 58.6% in group P and 85.7% in group C (P < 0.05). A lower face, legs, activity, cry, consolability score was seen in group D than in group P and group C (3.9 + 1.1 versus 6.1 ± 0.9 and 7.1 ± 1.0, P < 0.05). The value of heart rate and mean arterial pressure during emergence in group P and group C were significantly higher than that in group D (All P < 0.05). These findings suggest that dexmedetomidine as a sedative, analgesic, and sympatholytic agent was superior to propofol in reducing the incidence of emergence delirium in children undergoing cleft palates surgery with sevoflurane-based anesthesia.

The frequency of emergence delirium in children undergoing outpatient anaesthesia for magnetic resonance imaging

AIM

The aim of this study was to investigate the effect on the occurrence of emergence delirium of propofol and ketofol with intranasal dexmedetomidine and midazolam applied as premedication to paediatric patients during magnetic resonance imaging (MRI).

METHODS

The study included children aged 2-10 years who received sedation for MRI, separated into four groups. Group MP (midazolam-propofol) received intranasal midazolam (0.2 mg/kg) for premedication and intravenous (IV) propofol (1 mg/kg) as the anaesthetic agent. Group MK (midazolam-ketofol) received intranasal midazolam (0.2 mg/kg) for premedication and IV ketofol (1 mg/kg) as the anaesthetic agent. Group DP (dexmedetomidine-propofol) received intranasal dexmedetomidine (1 mcg/kg) for premedication and IV propofol (1 mg/kg) as the anaesthetic agent. Group DK (dexmedetomidine-ketofol) received intranasal dexmedetomidine (1 mcg/kg) for premedication and IV ketofol (1 mg/kg) as the anaesthetic agent. The Paediatric Anaesthesia Emergence Delirium (PAED) scale was used to evaluate delirium. A PAED score ≥ 10 was accepted as delirium.

RESULTS

Statistical analysis was made of 140 paediatric patients. Delirium developed in 1.42% of all the patients, and in 5.7% of Group MP. The mean Aldrete and PAED scores were lower and the length of stay in the recovery room was shorter in Group DP than in the other groups. The need for additional anaesthetic was highest in Group DP at 94.3% and lowest in Group DK at 14.3%. The groups administered ketofol were observed to have a lower requirement for additional anaesthetic.

CONCLUSION

Delirium was seen at a very low rate only in the Group MP and it is difficult to say the best combination in terms of delirium frequency. However, intranasal dexmedetomidine and IV ketofol seem to be better and safer than the other groups in terms of the need for additional doses and the number of side effects. The addition of ketamine to propofol reduces the need for additional doses with a synergistic effect.

Research status and prospect of peri-extubation delirium

Peri-extubation delirium is a clinical syndrome caused by multiple factors, and it is not a simple disease. It occurs within a period of time after extubation when the effect of general anesthesia is reduced. And the incidence is different in disparate populations, and it is more common in elderly patients. Current studies have shown that iatrogenic factors and patients' own factors are the main risk factors for the syndrome. Early identification of risk factors can help clinicians make early diagnosis. The earlier the diagnosis and treatment begin, the more significantly the prognosis of patients can be improved. At present, the treatment of perioperative delirium is based on non-drug therapy, supplemented by drug therapy. This review will introduce in detail the risk factors, population status and prevention measures of delirium during peri-extubation, and look forward to the new research direction in the future.

Association of pharmacological prophylaxis with the risk of pediatric emergence delirium after sevoflurane anesthesia: An updated network meta-analysis

STUDY OBJECTIVE

This updated network meta-analysis aims at exploring whether the concurrent use of midazolam or antiemetics may enhance the efficacy of other pharmacological regimens for delirium prophylaxis in pediatric population after general anesthesia (GA).

DESIGN

Network meta-analysis (PROSPERO registration: CRD42020179483).

SETTING

Postoperative recovery area.

PATIENTS

Pediatric patients undergoing GA with sevoflurane.

INTERVENTIONS

Pharmacological interventions applied during GA with sevoflurane.

MEASUREMENTS

This network meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials (RCTs) was conducted with a frequentist model. PubMed, Embase, ProQuest, ScienceDirect, Cochrane CENTRAL, ClinicalKey, Web of Science, and ClinicalTrials.gov were searched from their inception dates to April 12, 2020, for RCTs of either placebo-controlled or active-controlled design containing information on the incidence of emergence delirium in pediatric patients undergoing sevoflurane anesthesia.

MAIN RESULTS

Seventy studies comprising 6904 participants were included for the analysis of 30 pharmacological interventions. Based on surface under the cumulative ranking curve (SUCRA) analysis, midazolam was ranked the lowest in therapeutic effect (SUCRA: 20%), while antiemetics as a monotherapy had no effect on delirium prophylaxis. However, there was a trend that most combination therapies with midazolam or antiemetics were superior to monotherapies for delirium prophylaxis. Subgroup analyses based on age (i.e., ≤7 years) and a validated scoring system (i.e., the Pediatric Anesthesia Emergence Delirium scale) for delirium also suggested a better efficacy of combination therapies than monotherapies. Overall, combination therapies with midazolam or antiemetics did not have a negative impact on the incidence of postoperative nausea and vomiting, length of stay in the postanesthesia care unit, or time to extubation. The dexmedetomidine-midazolam-antiemetic combination was the most effective strategy for the prevention of emergence delirium.

CONCLUSIONS

This network meta-analysis suggested that the incorporation of midazolam or antiemetics as adjuncts for combination therapies may have synergistic effects against pediatric postoperative emergence delirium. Future large-scale placebo-controlled RCTs are warranted to validate our findings.

Effect of Dexmedetomidine in children undergoing general anaesthesia with sevoflurane: a meta-analysis and systematic review

Objective

The sedative effects of dexmedetomidine (Dex) are similar to natural sleep, with easy wakening following Dex administration, and Dex has minor effects on breathing, reducing emergence agitation in children. The aim of this study was to systematically evaluate the effects of Dex on recovery quality in children following general anaesthesia with sevoflurane, to aid clinical decision making.

Methods

Relevant randomized controlled trials published before August 2019 were searched and selected from databases. Two researchers independently screened the literature, extracted data, and assessed included studies for bias risk. Meta-analysis was performed using Stata 14.0 software.

Results

The study included 24 publications. Following general anaesthesia by sevoflurane, Dex was associated with reduced occurrence of emergence agitation (odds ratio [OR] 0.16, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.11, 0.25) and nausea and vomiting (OR 0.40, 95% CI 0.24, 0.60), along with shortened eye-opening time (standardized mean difference [SMD] 0.72, 95% CI 0.41, 1.03), shortened extubation time (SMD 0.54, 95% CI 0.28, 0.81), and reduced duration of post-anaesthesia care unit (PACU) stay (SMD 0.29, 95% CI 0.08, 0.51) versus placebo.

Conclusion

Dexmedetomidine has positive effects on recovery quality in children undergoing general anaesthesia with sevoflurane.

Effect of different administration and dosage of dexmedetomidine in the reduction of emergence agitation in children: a meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials with sequential trial analysis

BACKGROUND

Beneficial effects of dexmedetomidine (DEX) against emergence agitation (EA) in children remain controversial. We performed a more comprehensive meta-analysis to evaluate the protective effect of different administration routes, timing, patterns, and doses of DEX on EA in children.

METHODS

The randomized controlled trials about DEX preventing EA in children were searched in PubMed, Cochrane Library, Embase, and Web of Sciences up to October 7, 2020. The traditional meta-analysis and subgroup analysis were performed to study the influence of DEX on EA in children. The sequential trial analysis (TSA) further analyzed the pooled results to evaluate meta-analyses' robustness. Grading of recommendation, assessment, development, and evaluation (GRADE) was used to assess evidence quality.

RESULTS

Sixty-seven studies with 5,688 pediatric patients were included. DEX significantly decreased EA in children compared to placebo [RR 0.29, 95% confidence intervals (CI): 0.25-0.34] and midazolam (RR 0.34, 95% CI: 0.25-0.45), with firm evidence from TSA. Notably, using DEX significantly reduced severe EA incidence (RR 0.23, 95% CI: 0.16-0.32), with firm evidence by TSA and high quality of GRADE. Pre-specified subgroup analyses revealed firm and high-quality evidence for a reduction of EA, only if the perineural route administers DEX (RR 0.24, 95% CI: 0.14-0.41), as premedication (RR 0.27, 95% CI: 0.20-0.36), as continuous dosage (RR 0.25, 95% CI: 0.18-0.33), at high dose (RR 0.24, 95% CI: 0.18-0.31). The pooled results also showed that DEX reduced the incidence of PONV compared to placebo (RR 0.43, 95% CI: 0.33-0.55). Evidence for DEX's influence on other secondary outcomes (emergence time, time in PACU, rescue analgesia, hypotension, and bradycardia) is insufficient to draw any conclusion.

CONCLUSIONS

Our findings confirm the beneficial effects of DEX on EA, severe EA, and PONV in children. There was firm and high-quality evidence for the efficacy of DEX in preventing EA in children when perineural routes administered DEX, as premedication, as continuous dosage, and at a high dose. The best dose, route, patterns, and timing of DEX and influence on other outcomes call for further studies.

Dexmedetomidine vs. total intravenous anaesthesia in paediatric emergence delirium: A network meta-analysis

BACKGROUND

Emergence delirium is a common complication in paediatric anaesthesia associated with significant morbidity. Total intravenous anaesthesia (TIVA) and intra-operative dexmedetomidine as an adjuvant to sevoflurane anaesthesia can both reduce the incidence of emergence delirium compared with sevoflurane alone, but no studies have directly compared their relative efficacy.

OBJECTIVE

The study objective was to compare the effects of TIVA and dexmedetomidine on the incidence of paediatric emergence delirium.

STUDY DESIGN

The current study is a systematic review and network meta-analysis (NMA) of randomised controlled trials.

DATA SOURCES

We conducted a systematic search of 12 databases including Medline (Ovid) and Web of Science (Clarivate Analytics) from their respective inception to December 2020.

ELIGIBILITY

Inclusion criteria were randomised controlled trials of paediatric patients undergoing general anaesthesia using sevoflurane, sevoflurane with dexmedetomidine or TIVA. Data were extracted by two reviewers according to Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-analyses guidelines and analysed using NMA methodology. Risk ratios and 95% credible intervals (CrI) were calculated for all outcomes [emergence delirium, postoperative nausea and vomiting (PONV), and time to emergence and extubation]. The protocol was registered with PROSPERO (CRD42018091237).

RESULTS

The systematic review returned 66 eligible studies comprising 5257 patients with crude median emergence delirium incidences of 12.8, 9.1 and 40% in the dexmedetomidine with sevoflurane, TIVA and sevoflurane alone groups, respectively. NMA indicated that compared with TIVA, sevoflurane with adjuvant dexmedetomidine decreased the incidence of emergence delirium without statistical difference (risk ratio 0.88, 95% CrI 0.61 to 1.20, low quality of evidence), but resulted in a higher incidence of PONV (risk ratio: 2.3, 95% CrI 1.1 to 5.6, low quality of evidence).

CONCLUSION

Clinical judgement, considering the patient's risk factors for the development of clinically significant outcomes such as emergence delirium and PONV, should be used when choosing between TIVA and sevoflurane with adjuvant dexmedetomidine. These findings are limited by the low quality of evidence (conditional recommendation).

The Effect of Dexmedetomidine on Emergence Agitation or Delirium in Children After Anesthesia-A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Clinical Studies

Background: We conducted this systematic review and meta-analysis to investigate the clinical effect of dexmedetomidine in preventing pediatric emergence agitation (EA) or delirium (ED) following anesthesia compared with placebo or other sedatives. Methods: The databases of Pubmed, Embase, and Cochrane Library were searched until 8th January 2020. Inclusion criteria were participants with age<18 years and studies of comparison between dexmedetomidine and placebo or other sedatives. Exclusion criteria included adult studies; duplicate publications; management with dexmedetomidine alone; review or meta-analysis; basic research; article published as abstract, letter, case report, editorial, note, method, or protocol; and article presented in non-English language. Results: Fifty-eight randomized controlled trials (RCTs) and five case-control trials (CCTs) including 7,714 patients were included. The results showed that dexmedetomidine significantly decreased the incidence of post-anesthesia EA or ED compared with placebo [OR = 0.22, 95% CI: (0.16, 0.32), I 2 = 75, P < 0.00001], midazolam [OR = 0.36, 95% CI: (0.21, 0.63), I 2 = 57, P = 0.0003], and opioids [OR = 0.55, 95% CI: (0.33, 0.91), I 2 = 0, P = 0.02], whereas the significant difference was not exhibited compared with propofol (or pentobarbital) [OR = 0.56, 95% CI: (0.15, 2.14), I 2 = 58, P = 0.39], ketamine [OR = 0.43, 95% CI: (0.19, 1.00), I 2 = 0, P = 0.05], clonidine [OR = 0.54, 95% CI: (0.20, 1.45), P = 0.22], chloral hydrate [OR = 0.98, 95% CI: (0.26, 3.78), P = 0.98], melatonin [OR = 1.0, 95% CI: (0.13, 7.72), P = 1.00], and ketofol [OR = 0.55, 95% CI: (0.16, 1.93), P = 0.35]. Conclusion: Compared with placebo, midazolam, and opioids, dexmedetomidine significantly decreased the incidence of post-anesthesia EA or ED in pediatric patients. However, dexmedetomidine did not exhibit this superiority compared with propofol and ketamine. With regard to clonidine, chloral hydrate, melatonin, and ketofol, the results needed to be further tested due to the fact that only one trial was included for each control drug.

Propofol use in newborns and children: is it safe? A systematic review

OBJECTIVES

To determine the main indications and assess the most common adverse events with the administration of hypnotic propofol in most pediatric clinical scenarios.

SOURCES

A systematic review of PubMed, SciELO, Cochrane, and EMBASE was performed, using filters such as a maximum of five years post-publication, and/or references or articles of importance, with emphasis on clinical trials using propofol. All articles of major relevance were blind-reviewed by both authors according to the PRISMA statement, looking for possible bias and limitations or the quality of the articles.

SUMMARY OF THE FINDINGS

Through the search criterion applied, 417 articles were found, and their abstracts evaluated. A total of 69 papers were thoroughly studied. Articles about propofol use in children are increasing, including in neonates, with the majority being cohort studies and clinical trials in two main scenarios: upper digestive endoscopy and magnetic resonance imaging. A huge list of adverse events has been published, but most articles considered them of low risk.

CONCLUSIONS

Propofol is a hypnotic drug with a safe profile of efficacy and adverse events. Indeed, when administered by non-anesthesiologists, quick access to emergency care must be provided, especially in airway events. The use of propofol in other scenarios must be better studied, aiming to reduce the limitations of its administration by general pediatricians.

Comparison of dexmedetomidine with propofol as sedatives for pediatric patients undergoing magnetic resonance imaging: A meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials with trial sequential analysis

Dexmedetomidine and propofol are commonly used sedative agents in pediatric patients undergoing magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). The present meta-analysis aimed to compare dexmedetomidine with propofol in pediatric patients undergoing MRI using trial sequential analysis (TSA). The PubMed, Cochrane Library and Web of Knowledge databases were systematically searched for entries up to August 2018 for potential randomized controlled trials comparing dexmedetomidine with propofol in pediatric patients undergoing MRI. Data were extracted by two independent authors and analyzed using Revman version 5.2 software. Six trials involving 415 pediatric patients were included in the final analysis. A shorter recovery time (P<0.01) and onset time of sedation were identified for propofol compared with dexmedetomidine (P<0.01); however, there were no significant differences in the duration of sedation (P=0.37). Furthermore, pediatric patients receiving propofol were discharged sooner than those receiving dexmedetomidine (P=0.02). The incidence of failed sedation did not significantly differ between the two groups (P=0.81). Propofol induced a lower incidence of 5-min (P=0.03) and 10-min Pediatric Anesthesia Emergence Delirium (P<0.01), but a higher incidence of desaturation (P<0.01). The duration of MRI was similar between the two groups (P=0.15). TSA indicated that the monitoring boundary was crossed by the cumulative z curve, providing supportive evidence for the shorter recovery time in the propofol group. Propofol is recommended for pediatric sedation during MRI, owing to shorter recovery time and onset of sedation time, as well as a faster discharge from hospital, and a lower incidence of PAED score >10, compared with dexmedetomidine. However, considering the possibility of desaturation, propofol should be used with caution.

[Protective effects of dexmedetomidine against pulmonary ischemia-reperfusion injury during cardiopulmonary bypass in rats]

OBJECTIVE

To investigate the signaling pathways that mediate the protective effects of dexmedetomidine on lung tissue against ischemia-reperfusion (I/R) injury during cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB).

METHODS

Forty adult SD rats were randomized into 5 groups, namely I/R group (group A), dexmedetomidine group (group B), sham-operated group (group C), oxypenicillin group (group D), and oxypenicillin + dexmedetomidine group (group E). The arterial blood gas, lung tissue apoptosis rate, protein kinase (Akt), phosphorylated Akt (p-AKT), caspase-3 and caspase-9 were compared among the 5 groups.

RESULTS

In groups A, B, D and E, the heart rate (HR), mean arterial pressure (MAP), and oxygenation index (OI) measured before CPB, at opening of the left hilar and at the end of experiment decreased gradually while the respiratory index (RI) increased at the 3 time points. At the end of experiment, HR, MAP, and OI in group B were significantly higher and RI was significantly lower than those in groups A, D and E (P &lt; 0.05). In groups A-E, the pathological scores of the lung tissue at the end of the experiment were 4.89, 1.89, 0, 6.01 and 5.76, respectively, and the cell apoptosis rates in the lung tissue were 6.25%, 3.69%, 1.06%, 8.06% and 7.79%, respectively (P &lt; 0.001). Western blotting showed that the expressions of Akt and p-AKT were the highest and those of caspase-3 and caspase-9 were the lowest in group B among the 5 groups (P &lt; 0.05).

CONCLUSIONS

Dexmedetomidine can effectively alleviate lung injury in rats during CPB possibly by targeting caspase-3 and caspase-9 proteins that are related to PI3K/Akt signaling pathway.

The Effects of Anesthesia on the Pediatric Developing Brain: Strategies to Reduce Anesthesia Use in Pediatric MRI and Nursing's Role in Driving Patient Safety

PURPOSE

To describe the physiological and biological principles of anesthesia for children; nonanesthesia practices; the state of the evidence of patient- and family-centered care strategies to reduce anesthesia use; and role of nursing in ensuring patient safety through reducing anesthesia use for pediatric magnetic resonance imaging (MRI).

DESIGN

Integrative literature review.

METHODS

Review and synthesis of experimental and nonexperimental literature.

FINDINGS

Anesthesia use in pediatric MRI: 20 studies met inclusion criteria. Physiological and biological side effects of anesthesia in children are substantial. Of significance is the developing research on the extent to which anesthesia affects the developing brain of children. Nonanesthesia in pediatric MRI: 16 studies met inclusion criteria. Common themes were noted between patient- and family-centered care strategies and reducing anesthesia use in children requiring MRI.

CONCLUSIONS

There are significant risks associated with anesthesia on the developing brain. Nurses play an important role in using patient-centered strategies to reduce pediatric anesthesia use and advocate for patient safety.

Dexmedetomidine for the prevention of emergence delirium and postoperative behavioral changes in pediatric patients with sevoflurane anesthesia: a double-blind, randomized trial

Objectives

Emergence delirium (ED) is a common neurologic complication that can not only distress children and their families in the early postanesthetic period, but can also have adverse effects on children in the long-term. This study aimed to investigate the effects of single-dose dexmedetomidine on ED in children with sevoflurane anesthesia and to observe postoperative behavioral changes through long-term follow-up.

Methods

Patients aged 2-7 years, American Society of Anesthesiologists class (ASA) I or II, scheduled for tonsillectomy with and without adenoidectomy were randomized to receive dexmedetomidine 0.5 μg/kg (Group D) or volume-matched normal saline (Group C) over 10 minutes after induction of anesthesia. The primary outcome was the incidence of ED within 30 minutes after extubation. Other outcomes were the incidence of pain, extubation time, post-anesthesia care unit (PACU) length of stay after extubation, adverse events, and the incidence of negative postoperative behavioral changes (NPOBCs).

Results

Ninety children completed the study. Compared with the control group (Group C), dexmedetomidine decreased the incidence of ED (31.1% vs 53.3%; P=0.033) and pain (28.9% vs 57.8%; P=0.006), but it prolonged extubation time (P⩽0.001). PACU length of stay after extubation and the percentage of adverse events were similar between groups. The incidence of NPOBCs in Group D was significantly lower at 1 and 7 days after discharge (33.3% vs 60.0%; P=0.011% and 24.4% vs 46.7%; P=0.028, respectively) than it was in Group C, but no significant difference was found at the 30th day.

Conclusion

Dexmedetomidine 0.5 μg/kg reduced the incidence of ED after sevoflurane anesthesia and might be used to prevent NPOBCs.

Clinical trials registration

ChiCTR1800016828.

Effect of dexmedetomidine anesthesia on respiratory function in pediatric patients undergoing retinoblastoma resection

The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of dexmedetomidine (Dex) on the respiratory function during anesthesia induction in pediatric patients undergoing retinoblastoma (RB) resection. A total of 87 pediatric patients who underwent RB resection in Yidu Central Hospital of Weifang were recruited into this study. General anesthesia was first induced for all patients, of which 45 were randomly assigned to the experimental group and received Dex through an intravenous infusion pump to maintain general anesthesia. The remaining 42 patients were assigned to the control group and received saline through an intravenous infusion pump. Respiratory function and hemodynamic indexes at five time-points, i.e., before anesthesia induction (T0), 5 min after injection of anesthetic agents (T1), before intubation (T2), 15 min after intubation (T3), and 30 min after extubation (T4), were recorded and compared. Incidence of perioperative cardiac and respiratory adverse events was counted in both groups, and post-anesthesia resuscitation was evaluated and compared. Compared with T0, the respiratory rate (R) of the experimental group was lower at T1-T4, but there was no statistical difference (P<0.05). Compared with T0, the control group had a higher R at T2, lower R at T3 and T4 (P<0.05), and there was no significant difference in R between T0 and T1 (P>0.05). At the same time-point, compared with the experimental group, the R was higher at T2, and lower at T3 and T4 in the control group (P<0.05), and no significant difference was found at T1. Blood oxygen saturation (SpO₂) of the experimental group was slightly lower than that of T0 at T1-T4 (P>0.05). In the control group, the levels of SpO₂ were significantly lower at T1-T4 than those at T0 (P<0.05). Compared with the experimental group at the same time-point, SpO₂ of the control group at T1-T4 decreased significantly (P<0.05). The heart rate (HR) of the experimental and control groups was lower at T1-T4 than that at T0 (P<0.05). The HR of the experimental group was higher than that of the control group at T1-T4 (P<0.05). Mean arterial pressure (MAP) of the experimental and control groups was lower at T1-T4 than that at T0 (P<0.05). MAP of the control group was higher than that of the experimental group at T2 but lower than that at T0 of the control group. MAP of the control group was lower than that of the experimental group at T1-T4. There was no significant difference in incidence of tachycardia, bradycardia, vomiting, hypoxia and laryngism between the two groups (P>0.05). There was no difference in resuscitation and extubation time between the two groups (P>0.05). Finally, agitation of the control group was more severe than that of the experimental group (P<0.05). Therefore, Dex can improve the respiratory function and hemodynamic stability during anesthesia induction in children with RB resection.

Paediatric emergence delirium: a comprehensive review and interpretation of the literature

There remain unanswered questions and implications related to emergence delirium in children. Although we know that there are some predisposing factors to emergence delirium, we still are unable to predict accurately those who are at greatest risk. Emergence delirium should be considered as a ‘vital sign’, which should be followed and documented in every child in the postanaesthesia recovery period. Standardized screening tools should be adopted for paediatric emergence delirium.

Dexmedetomidine versus propofol on the sedation of pediatric patients during magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scanning: a meta-analysis of current studies

Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is a widely applied diagnostic approach for detection of pediatric diseases. Sedatives are commonly used to acquire the accurate MRI images. Dexmedetomidine and propofol serve as sole or combined sedatives in pediatric MRI scanning. This meta-analysis aimed to compare the efficacy of dexmedetomidine and propofol in children ubdergoing MRI. Pubmed, Cochrane Library and Web of Science were searched up to June, 2017. Onset of sedation time, recovery time, sedation time, MRI time, MRI quality and emergence delirium were analyzed. 6 studies with 368 subjects were enrolled in this meta-analysis. The pooling data showed that propofol had a shorter onset of sedation time (WMD: 6.05, 95% CI: 3.12 – 8.98, P < 0.0001) and recovery time (WMD: 1.01, 95% CI: 0.36–1.67, P < 0.001) than dexmedetomidine. But for sedation time and MRI scanning time, there were no differences between the two groups (sedation time: P = 0.29; MRI scanning time: P = 0.50). There were no significance between dexmedetomidine and propofol on MRI quality (MRI quality 1: P = 1.00; MRI quality 2: P = 0.68; MRI quality 3: P = 0.45). Two studies using Pediatric Anesthesia Emergence Delirium (PAED) to assess emergence delirium 10 minutes after awakening showed that propofol had a lower PAED than dexmedetomidine (WMD: 2.57, 95% CI: 0.15–5.00, P = 0.04). Thus, propofol should be encouraged in pediatric patients undergoing MRI for its better sedative effects and a low incidence of emergence delirium.

Emergence Delirium in Pediatric Anesthesia

Emergence delirium (ED) is a complex of perceptual disturbances and psychomotor agitation that occurs most commonly in preschool-aged children in the early postanesthetic period. The incidence of ED varies between 10 and 80% in children and is perceived as a troublesome clinical situation by 42% of pediatric anesthesiologists. Although these events are often short lived, they increase the risk of self-injury and delayed discharge, require additional nursing staff and can increase medical care costs, all of which are causes for concern. The prevalence of ED has increased with the introduction and growing use of sevoflurane and desflurane, two low-solubility inhalational anesthetics. These agents promote early arousal post anesthetic, which contributes to ED. Physiological factors, pharmacological factors, the type of procedure, the anesthetic agent administered, painful stimuli, and various patient factors can all contribute to ED and thus need to be considered. Recent literature debates the cause-effect relationship between ED and pain, suggesting that they often occur concurrently but are sometimes independent findings. The consistent relation between ED and sevoflurane-based anesthesia has guided many studies to investigate its incidence compared with using other anesthetic techniques or various adjuncts. The risk of ED is lowest when propofol is used as a single-agent anesthetic compared with sevoflurane-based anesthetics. Adjunctive agents can be rated in the following order of most effective to least effective interventions: dexmedetomidine, fentanyl, ketamine, clonidine, and propofol bolus at the end of sevoflurane-based anesthesia. This review summarizes the factors that may predict ED and provides an intervention algorithm to guide effective prevention and treatment.

Effects of intraoperative dexmedetomidine with intravenous anesthesia on postoperative emergence agitation/delirium in pediatric patients undergoing tonsillectomy with or without adenoidectomy: A CONSORT-prospective, randomized, controlled clinical trial

Postoperative emergence agitation/delirium (POED) is a common complication in pediatric surgery patients, which increases the risk of developing postoperative airway obstruction and respiratory depression. This study aims to investigate the safety and efficacy of intraoperative infusion of dexmedetomidine (DEX) and its effects on POED in pediatric patients undergoing tonsillectomy with or without adenoidectomy.Sixty patients scheduled for tonsillectomy with or without adenoidectomy, aged 2 to 8 years, were randomly allocated into 2 groups (n = 30). Pediatric patients in the group DEX received intravenous (IV) DEX 1 μg/kg over 10 minutes, followed by 0.5 μg/kg/h continuous infusion, and the same volume of 0.9% saline was administrated in the group control. Anesthesia was maintained with target-controlled infusion (TCI) of propofol and remifentanyl. Intraoperative heart rate (HR), noninvasive blood pressure (NIBP), blood oxygen saturation (SPO2), recovery time, and extubation time were recorded. Pain level was evaluated using the objective pain score (OPS), pediatric anesthesia emergence delirium (PAED) scale and Cole 5-point scale (CPS) was used to evaluate POED when patients at 0, 5, 15 minutes, and then at intervals of 15 minutes for 60 minutes after parents arrival at postanesthesia care unit (PACU).The results showed that intraoperative HR was significantly lower in group DEX (P <0.05), mean diastolic and systolic NIBP was not statistically different between groups. Time to wake and time to extubation were lengthened in group DEX as compared with group control (P <0.05). OPS and CPS were lower in group DEX at 15, 30, and 45 minutes time points (P <0.05); however, there were no significantly differences in the PAED score at different time points in the PACU.The present data suggested that intraoperative infusion of dexmedetomidine combined with intravenous anesthetics can provide satisfactory intraoperative conditions for pediatric patients undergoing tonsillectomy with or without adenoidectomy, without adverse hemodynamic effects, though the lower incidence of POED was not observed.

The efficacy of propofol on emergence agitation--a meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials

BACKGROUND

Emergence agitation (EA) is a common, post-anesthetic complication in pediatric patients following sevoflurane and desflurane anesthesia. The aim of this meta-analysis was to assess the effects of an adjunctive dose of propofol to reduce the incidence of EA in pediatric patients.

METHODS

A comprehensive literature review was conducted to identify clinical trials focusing on the effects of propofol on EA in children under sevoflurane and desflurane anesthesia. The MEDLINE, EMBASE, Wiley Online Library, Web of Science, China National Knowledge Internet databases, and other sources were searched. The data were combined to calculate the pooled relative ratio (RR) or mean difference (MD), and relevant 95% confidence interval (CI). Heterogeneity and potential publication bias were assessed. The required information size was calculated and a Lan-DeMets sequential monitoring boundary was constructed to improve the precision of our findings.

RESULTS

Data from 11 studies showed that an adjunctive dose of propofol conveyed a preventive effect on EA, as compared with placebo (RR = 0.56; 95% CI = 0.43-0.74; P < 0.0001). There was no significant difference in the length of stay in the post-anesthesia care unit between groups (MD = 0.25 min; 95% CI = -2.81 to 2.31; P = 0.85). The required information size was 2297 patients and the Lan-DeMets sequential monitoring boundary was crossed. However, most of the included studies had a high risk of bias and non-ignorable inter-study and clinical heterogeneity.

CONCLUSION

Future studies on the benefits of adjunct propofol in reducing the incidence of EA are required.