Abstract No.: ABS3031: Effect of nebulised dexmedetomidine on parental separation in paediatric patients

BACKGROUND & AIMS: Fear of parental separation causes preoperative anxiety in 50-70% of paediatric patients leading to high incidence of postoperative pain, emergence. Inhalation of nebuliser drug provides alternative to preoperative sedation in children and needle puncture from intravenous/intramuscular (iv/im) can be avoided. METHODS: In this prospective randomiseddouble blind study 92 patients aged between 1-10 years were taken. Patients were divided into two groups as Group D and group C. Patients were kept fasting according to American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) guidelines. Group D received nebulised dexmedetomidine 2 µg/kg) and Group C received nebulised NS preoperatively. Parental separation anxiety scale (PSAS) at 20 min after the end of nebulisation was compared between the two groups while shifting to operating room. Patients were monitored intraoperatively and postoperatively for one hour. Statistical analysis was done using chi-square test. A p value of <0.05 was considered significant. RESULTS: Parameters were compared between C and D group..Parental separation was satisfactory in group D (p = 0.020)compared to group C. CONCLUSION: Nebulised dexmedetomidine can be used as a premedicant in paediatric patients preoperatively, as it provides better parental separation and reduces anxiety.