Optimal doses of intranasal esketamine plus dexmedetomidine for sedating toddlers during transthoracic echocardiography: a prospective, double-blind, randomized trial.

ABSTRACT:

Introduction

Esketamine has unique advantages in combination with dexmedetomidine for sedation in young children, owing to its sympathetic activity and mild respiratory depression. However, the optimal dose is yet to be determined. In this study, we compared the different doses of intranasal esketamine combined with dexmedetomidine for sedation during transthoracic echocardiography in toddlers.

Patients and methods

A total of 121 eligible children aged 13 years, who were scheduled for transthoracic echocardiography were randomized into three groups. They were treated with intranasal dexmedetomidine 1 mcg.kg^-1 + esketamine 0.5 mg.kg^-1 (group S1), dexmedetomidine 1 mcg.kg^-1 + esketamine 1 mg.kg^-1 (group S2), or dexmedetomidine 1 mcg.

SUBMITTER: Pei D 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC11749271 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Dec

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature