Dexmedetomidine–propofol vs ketamine–propofol anaesthesia in paediatric and young adult patients undergoing device closure procedures in cardiac catheterisation laboratory: An open label randomised trial

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: Several drug combinations have been tried in patients with acyanotic congenital heart disease (ACHD) undergoing transcatheter device closure in the cardiac catheterisation laboratory (CCL). Adequate sedation, analgesia, akinesia, cardiorespiratory stability, and prompt recovery are key requirements. Ketamine with propofol is used for this purpose. Dexmedetomidine carries a shorter recovery time. This study compared dexmedetomidine–propofol (DP) with ketamine–propofol (KP) in patients in the CCL. METHODS: This was an open label randomised trial at a CCL over a 2-year period from August 2012 to August 2014. Fifty-six paediatric and 44 young adults with ACHD underwent device closure and were randomised to receive DP or KP. The primary outcome studied was time to regain full consciousness, airway and motor recovery. RESULTS: Baseline characteristics were similar in the study groups. In the DP arm as compared to the KP arm, the time to recovery of consciousness (mean ± SD) was significantly faster in both paediatric patients [30 ± 15 vs. 58 ± 13 min (P < 0.001)] and in young adult patients [22 ± 10 vs. 35 ± 12 min (P < 0.001)]. There was significantly faster motor recovery also (mean ± SD) [paediatric: 25 ± 05 vs. 40 ± 14 (P < 0.001); young adult: 10 ± 05 vs. 22 ± 10 min (P < 0.001)]. CONCLUSION: Procedural anaesthesia with DP in paediatric and young adult patients with ACHD undergoing device closure in the CCL resulted in faster recovery of consciousness and motor recovery compared to KP.