Efficacy of the intravenous formulation of fentanyl citrate administered orally as premedication in paediatric patients undergoing open cardiac surgery.

BACKGROUND

Recently, fentanyl has become prevalent as a sedative premedication.

METHODS

A non-inferiority parallel design quadruple-blinded randomised controlled trial of 1- to 7-year-old children scheduled for elective cardiac surgery was conducted. Participants were assigned a 1:1 allocation ratio to a control group (n = 50) given a parenteral formulation of midazolam 0.5 mg/kg and an intervention group (n = 50) given a parenteral formulation of fentanyl 10 μg/kg 30 min before admission to the operating room.

RESULTS

Fentanyl was shown to be inferior when compared to midazolam during inhalational induction but not in the 'after premedication' and 'during separation' periods. A lower percentage of children disliked the medication in the fentanyl group.

CONCLUSIONS

A parenteral formulation of fentanyl can be a satisfactory alternative when given orally as a sedative pre-anaesthetic medication in paediatric cardiac surgery before admission to the operating room.