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Thirty min prior to anaesthetic induction for surgery, children aged 4-12 years old were given a 10 micrograms.kg-1 oral transmucosal fentanyl citrate (OTFC) and were instructed to suck the OTFC until pruritus appeared (Group 2) or until the entire dose was consumed (Group 1). Sedation, apprehension and cooperation scores were rated, and vital signs including oxygen saturation were monitored until anaesthetic induction. The results showed that pruritus was present in 76% of children; however; in all but one child, it occurred after the OTFC had been completely consumed. There were no significant changes in oxygen saturation, but respiratory rate decreased from 19.6 +/- 1.7 to 18.4 +/- 1.3. Activity decreased significantly; however, cooperation and apprehension did not change. The conclusion was that pruritus cannot be used as an endpoint for OTFC effectiveness; however, OTFC dosed at 10 micrograms.kg-1 is effective in providing sedation without causing clinically significant changes in vital signs or oxygen saturation.

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