Effect of Dexmedetomidine on Emergence Agitation and Postoperative Behavior Changes in Children
Status:
Unknown status
Trial end date:
2019-07-01
Target enrollment:
Participant gender:
Summary
Emergence agitation (EA) is a dissociated state of consciousness in which the child is
inconsolable, irritable, uncooperative, typically thrashing, crying, moaning, or incoherent.
Although usually transient, it is not only an extremely distressing event for children,
parents, and staff, but may also result in self-injury or the need for restraint. The
prevalence in children appears to be between 10% and 80% depending upon the definition and
measurement tools used and is more frequently observed in the pre-school age-group. A clear
correlation has been found between EA and negative postoperative behavioral changes,
including anxiety, eating and sleeping disorders, enuresis, fear of darkness, that may
persist for an extended period of time affecting emotional and cognitive
development.Currently, numerous interventions have been studied to manage EA after surgery.
Among them, dexmedetomidine (DEX) as a kind of highly selective α2 adrenergic receptor
agonist has been done to reduce EA in children. Unfortunately, no studies examined
posthospitalization negative behaviour changes.