The study objective is to determine if intranasal dexmedetomidine is a safe and effective sedative drug during small painful procedures in the pediatric emergency room. Patients of the pediatric emergency room at Oulu university hospital with any medical condition requiring a small painful procedure like i.v. cannulation or lumbar puncture are asked to join the investigator's study if they would seem to benefit from a sedative drug during the procedure. Patients are randomly assigned to treatment group receiving intranasal dexmedetomidine 1µg/kg and to placebo group receiving 4,5% saline solution. The primary outcome is the success of the procedure. Cardiovascular and respiratory effects, the pain experienced by the patient, sedation scores and duration of crying are also monitored.
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Purpose
TREATMENT
Masking
QUADRUPLE
Enrollment
112
1µg/kg of dexmedetomidine is given 30 minutes prior to intravenous cannulation or lumbar puncture
Intranasal 4,5% saline is given as a placebo 30 minutes prior to intravenous cannulation or lumbar puncture
Oulu University Hospital
Oulu, Finland
RECRUITINGSuccess of the procedure
The success of the first attempt of the procedure (venous cannulation or lumbar puncture) is evaluated at the end of the first attempt of the procedure. Succesfulness of venous cannulation is tested by the doctor on call by flushing the cannula with saline. If the cannula works without complications the cannulation is successfull. Lumbar puncture is successfull if all the samples needed from the liquor are collected.
Time frame: After the first attempt of the procedure. The procedure is attempted 30 minutes after the study drug administration.
The duration of the procedure
The duration of the procedure
Time frame: The time from the start of the first attempt of the procedure to the success of the procedure. The procedure is attempted 30 after the study drug administration. Time from the first needle puncture to ending the procedure is recorded.
Parents assessment of the patients pain during the procedure
Parents assessment of the patients pain during the procedure on a visual analog scale. Parents fill in a questionnaire after the procedure is done. Questionnaire is returned to the research doctor during the follow up period.
Time frame: Parents return a questionnaire within 2 hours after the study drug has been administered.
Patient pain VAS
Patients assessment of the experienced pain with Visual Analog Scale is asked in the end of the follow up period. Visual Analog Scale is a numerical value for the pain experienced by the patient ranging from 0 to 10.
Time frame: The numerical value of VAS is asked in the end of the follow up period of 2 hours.
Patient pain FLACC
Assessment of pain levels of the patient with FLACC-scores. Assessment is done by the study doctor. FLACC is abbreviation of Faces Legs Activity Crying and Consolability scale. FLACC ranges from 0 to 10 as 0 being no pain at all and 10 being the most pain possible.
Time frame: Every 5 minutes from 15 minutes prior the study drug to 2 hours after the administration of the drug.
Patient sedation level
Assessment of sedation levels of the patient with Comfort-B-scores. Assessment is done by the study doctor.Comfort-B is a sedation scale ranging from 6 to 30. The lower the score the more sedated a patient is.
Time frame: Every 5 minutes from 15 minutes prior the study drug to 2 hours after the administration of the drug.
Duration of crying
Duration of the patients crying during and after the procedure. The duration of crying associated with the procedure is recorded in seconds and minutes.
Time frame: Duration of crying during the time period from 25 minutes after the study drug administration for 30 minute time period in which the procedure is anticipated to be done.
Effectivity of the drug
The parents are asked in the end of the follow up period whether they think the patient received the experimental drug or placebo
Time frame: The follow up period lasts 2 hours from the study drug administration.
Blood pressure
The systolic, diastolic and mean blood pressures are measured by manometer in every 5 minutes.
Time frame: Every 5 minutes from 15 minutes prior the study drug to 2 hours after the administration of the drug.
Respiratory rate
Respiratory rate is assessed by capnometry continuously and the rate is documented in every 5 minutes.
Time frame: Every 5 minutes from 15 minutes prior the study drug to 2 hours after the administration of the drug.
Oxygen saturation
Oxygen saturation is measured by pulse oxymetry continuously and the rate is documented in every 5 minutes
Time frame: Every 5 minutes from 15 minutes prior the study drug to 2 hours after the administration of the drug.
Heart rate
Heart rate is measured by ECG continuously and the rate is documented in every 5 minutes
Time frame: Every 5 minutes from 15 minutes prior the study drug to 2 hours after the administration of the drug.
Attempts needed to complete the procedure
The number attempts needed to complete the procedure is recorded.
Time frame: After the successful attempt of the procedure. The first attempt of the procedure is done 30 minutes after the study drug administration. The assessment is done within 2 hours of the administration of the study drug.
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