The use of midazolam in diagnostic and short surgical procedures in children.

A new technique of sedation for children is described, in which midazolam (0.2 mg.kg-1) was administered topically by the nasal route, followed by ketamine (9.0 mg.kg-1) administered rectally in 32 patients breathing air spontaneously. Sedation was good in 23, seven required further ketamine (1.0 mg.kg-1 i.v.), and in two, halothane was introduced. There was no evidence of severe respiratory depression except during oesophagoscopy. Cardiovascular stability was excellent. Of 21 patients over 5 years old, 19 developed complete and two partial anterograde amnesia for the administration of ketamine and surgery. The major complications were nausea and vomiting (five patients) and salivation (eight patients). The mean recovery time was 40 min (s.d. 33 min). It provided a relatively safe, adaptable, non-invasive method of inducing sedation in children.