Premedication

Not to be confused with Premeditation.

Premedication is using medication before some other therapy (usually surgery or chemotherapy) to prepare for that forthcoming therapy. Typical examples include premedicating with a sedative or analgesic before surgery; using prophylactic (preventive) antibiotics before surgery; and using antiemetics or antihistamines before chemotherapy.

Premedication before chemotherapy for cancer often consists of drug regimens (usually 2 or more drugs, e.g. dexamethasone, diphenhydramine and omeprazole) given to a patient minutes to hours before the chemotherapy to avert side effects or hypersensitivity reactions (i.e. allergic reactions).[citation needed]

Melatonin has been found to be effective as a premedication in both adults and children due to its pharmacological properties of hypnotic, antinociceptive and anticonvulsant which produce effective anxiolysis and sedation. Unlike midazolam, melatonin does not impair psychomotor skills or adversely affect the quality of recovery. It has a faster recovery time compared to midazolam and has a reduced incidence of post-operative excitement and results in a reduction in dose required of propofol and thiopental.[1]

Midazolam is effective in children in reducing anxiety associated with separation from parents and induction of anesthesia.[2] Sufentanil is also sometimes used as a premedication. Clonidine is becoming increasingly popular as a premedication for children. One drawback of clonidine is that it can take up to 45 minutes to take full effect.[3] In children, clonidine has been found to be equal to and possibly superior to benzodiazepines as a premedication. It has a more favourable side effect profile. It also reduces the need for an induction agent. It improves post-operative pain relief, is better at inducing sedation at induction, reduces agitated emergence, reduces shivering and post-operative nausea and vomiting and reduces post-operative delirium associated with sevoflurane anaesthesia. Benzodiazepines such as midazolam are more commonly used due largely to a lack of a marketing effort by the pharmaceutical companies. As a result, clonidine is becoming increasingly popular with anesthesiologists.[4][5] Dexmedetomidine and atypical antipsychotic agents are other premedications which are used particularly in very uncooperative children.[6]

Non-drug interventions for children include playing relaxing music, massages, reducing noise and controlling light to maintain the sleep wake cycle.[7] Other non-pharmacological options for children who refuse or cannot tolerate premedication include clown doctors; low sensory stimulation and hand-held video games may also help reduce anxiety during induction of general anesthesia.[8]

  1. ^ Naguib, M.; Gottumukkala, V.; Goldstein, PA. (Jan 2007). "Melatonin and anesthesia: a clinical perspective". J Pineal Res. 42 (1): 12–21. doi:10.1111/j.1600-079X.2006.00384.x. PMID 17198534.
  2. ^ Cox, RG.; Nemish, U.; Ewen, A.; Crowe, MJ. (Dec 2006). "Evidence-based clinical update: does premedication with oral midazolam lead to improved behavioural outcomes in children?". Can J Anaesth. 53 (12): 1213–9. doi:10.1007/BF03021583. PMID 17142656.
  3. ^ Rosenbaum, A.; Kain, ZN.; Larsson, P.; Lönnqvist, PA.; Wolf, AR. (Sep 2009). "The place of premedication in pediatric practice". Paediatr Anaesth. 19 (9): 817–28. doi:10.1111/j.1460-9592.2009.03114.x. PMID 19691689. S2CID 7743205.
  4. ^ Bergendahl, H.; Lönnqvist, PA.; Eksborg, S. (Feb 2006). "Clonidine in paediatric anaesthesia: review of the literature and comparison with benzodiazepines for premedication". Acta Anaesthesiol Scand. 50 (2): 135–43. doi:10.1111/j.1399-6576.2006.00940.x. PMID 16430532. S2CID 25797363. Archived from the original on 2012-12-16.
  5. ^ Dahmani, S.; Brasher, C.; Stany, I.; Golmard, J.; Skhiri, A.; Bruneau, B.; Nivoche, Y.; Constant, I.; Murat, I. (Jan 2010). "Premedication with clonidine is superior to benzodiazepines. A meta analysis of published studies". Acta Anaesthesiol Scand. 54 (4): 397–402. doi:10.1111/j.1399-6576.2009.02207.x. PMID 20085541. S2CID 205430269.
  6. ^ Bozkurt, P. (Jun 2007). "Premedication of the pediatric patient - anesthesia for the uncooperative child". Curr Opin Anesthesiol. 20 (3): 211–5. doi:10.1097/ACO.0b013e328105e0dd. PMID 17479023. S2CID 25446995.
  7. ^ Mencía, SB.; López-Herce, JC.; Freddi, N. (May 2007). "Analgesia and sedation in children: practical approach for the most frequent situations". J Pediatr (Rio J). 83 (2 Suppl): S71–82. doi:10.2223/JPED.1625. PMID 17530139.
  8. ^ Manyande, Anne; Cyna, Allan M.; Yip, Peggy; Chooi, Cheryl; Middleton, Philippa (2015-07-14). "Non-pharmacological interventions for assisting the induction of anaesthesia in children" (PDF). The Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews. 2015 (7): CD006447. doi:10.1002/14651858.CD006447.pub3. ISSN 1469-493X. PMC 8935979. PMID 26171895.