The Effect of Dexmedetomidine Infusion Versus Magnesium Sulphate Infusion on Emergence Delirium in Pediatric Patients Undergoing Lower Abdominal Surgery

Abstract

Abstract Background Emergence delirium (ED) is a clinical state during emergence from general anesthesia in which patients are awake but have an altered mental state. Its underlying cause remains unknown. Age, preoperative anxiety, anesthetic technique or agents, surgical procedure and pain are all suggested to play a role in its development. Several drugs were used to lower it's incidence in children. Objective Evaluating the incidence and intensity of emergence delirium in pediatric patients undergoing lower abdominal surgery after using either intravenous dexmedetomidine infusion or magnesium sulphate infusion intraoperatively. Patients and Methods 100 patients were randomized to receive intraoperatively either dexmedetomidine loading dose (0.5 µg/kg) over 10 min. followed by infusion rate of (0.2 µg / kg / hr.) or magnesium sulphate loading dose (30 mg/kg) followed by infusion rate of (10 mg/kg/hr) after induction with sevoflurane, LMA application and administration of caudal block. PEAD score was used for assessing emergence delirium. Results Incidence of emergence delirium according to PAED scale ≥10 was significantly lower in dexmedetomidine group than magnesium sulphate group with Pvalue <0.001, <0.001, 0.031, 0.012, 0.012 at 0,5,10,15,20 min. respectively during PACU stay. This statistically significant vanishes after 20 min. stay in PACU. There were no significant differences as regard fentanyl top up doses, postoperative FLACC pain score, postoperative fentanyl requirements. Conclusion This study shows that intraoperative administration of dexmedetomidine infusion is more effective than magnesium sulphate infusion in lowering the incidence of emergence delirium during the first 20 minutes postoperatively. In preschool aged children undergoing lower abdominal surgeries.