Comparative Evaluation of Efficacy of Oral Ketamine in Differential Doses as Premedication in Children

Abstract

BACKGROUNDPremedication traditionally has several goals; Reduction of anxiety and fear, secretion and provision of basal or background sedation. The primary purpose of prescribing drugs in the immediate preoperative period is to allay patient anxiety. In this study ketamine was evaluated as an oral premedication agent. The effect of different dosages of ketamine and its advantages and disadvantages were studied. MATERIALS AND METHODSIn this prospective, randomized and double blind study, hundred children posted for lower abdominal and perineum surgeries. The patients were randomly divided into two Groups. Group I received 4 mg/Kg and Group II received 6 mg/Kg 30-40 min before surgery. All children were evaluated the onset and level of sedation, emotional state, reaction to separation from parents and mask application for induction of anaesthesia, side effects. The observation was analysed using student's T test and Chi-square test used to compare the data between two groups. RESULTSThe oral ketamine can be used as a better premedication drug to produce optimal sedation and emotional state. CONCLUSIONOral ketamine 6 mg/Kg has been shown to be an effective and safe agent for premedication of children undergoing elective surgeries.