Parental presence plus oral midazolam decreases frequency of 5% halothane inductions in children

Study Objective: To determine the frequency of 5% halothane induction and behavioral distress during inhalation induction with both oral midazolam and Parental presence compared with parental presence alone Design: Randomized, controlled, double blind study. Setting. Same day anesthesia at a university department of anesthesiology. Patients: 72 ASA status I and II children, 3 to 10 Tears of age, scheduled for first time anesthesia. Interventions: Children were assigned to one of two groups to receive midazolam 0.5 mg/kg orally or placebo. A parent was present during induction. Children were videotaped at baseline, after treatment, and during induction. Tapes were scored for behavioral distress using the revised Observational Scale of Behavioral Distress. Measurements and Main Results: Children who received midazolam in the setting of parental presence had significantly fewer 5% halothane inductions than those who received placebo (p < 0.02). They also had less behavioral distress (p < 0.01). Conclusions: The combination of parental presence plus oral midazolam reduces the likelihood of needing a 5% rapid halothane induction when compared with parental Presence without premedication.