Dexmedetomidine vs Ketamine for Pediatric Procedural Sedation in the Emergency Department: A Randomized Clinical Trial.

OBJECTIVE

To design and conduct the effectiveness of Ketamine vs Dexmedetomidine in children's sedation at emergency department (ED).

METHODS

This randomized clinical trial study was carried out at the two trauma centers in Mashhad, Iran. The patients were divided into two groups by means of a random numbers table to be treated with Ketamine (N=20) or Dexmedetomidine (N=20). Their demographic information and sedation times of drugs were collected and analyzed.

RESULTS

In general, sedation time was significantly higher in the ketamine group, 14.35 minutes (IQR:9.82-19) than in the dexmedetomidine group, 9.7 minutes (8.35-14.23) (=0.023). Time of injection to complete anesthesia was 45.25 (IQR:30-58) and 72 (IQR:60.25-82) minutes in ketamine and dexmedetomidine groups, respectively (<0.01). In the case of recovery, grade 4 of the Ramsey scale was statistically more prevalent in dexmedetomidine (45%) than in the ketamine group (=0.0001).

CONCLUSION

This study demonstrated that dexmedetomidine could be used in cases where a shorter sedation time is vital. Ketamine could be a better choice where full recovery time (from injection) matters most. Clinical Trial registration code: IR.MUMS.fm.REC.1396.534.