Inpharma 1276 - 24 Feb 2001

■ Nitrous oxide is more effective than midazolam inalleviating anxiety in children undergoing lacerationrepair, report US-based researchers. In this study, 205children (aged 2–6 years) were randomised to receivestandard care alone, oral midazolam, continuous-flownitrous oxide or midazolam plus continuous-flownitrous oxide, prior to undergoing repair of faciallacerations.* Patients in the nitrous oxide andmidazolam plus nitrous oxide groups, compared withthe standard care alone group, had significantly lowermean Observational Scale of Behavioural Distress-Revised (OSBD-R) scores during lidocaine injection,laceration cleaning and suturing. Patients in themidazolam group had lower OSBD-R scores than thestandard care alone group; however, the between-group difference was significant only during lacerationcleaning.* Oral midazolam 0.5 mg/kg (maximum 20mg) was given 20minutes before suturing. Nitrous oxide was given as a 50/50mixture with oxygen starting just before wound preparation. Allpatients received standard care comprising topical tetracaine/epinephrine [adrenaline]/lidocaine, followed by supplementalinjected lidocaine.

Luhmann JD, et al. A randomized clinical trial of continuous-flow nitrousoxide and midazolam for sedation of young children during laceration repair.Annals of Emergency Medicine 37: 20-27, Jan 2001 800859901

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Inpharma 24 Feb 2001 No. 12761173-8324/10/1276-0001/$14.95 Adis © 2010 Springer International Publishing AG. All rights reserved