Comparison between ketamine and fentanyl-droperidol for rectal premedication in children: a randomized placebo controlled trial

Purpose A common concern of anesthesiologists is the management of children involved in stressful scenarios, and premedication is considered, in most situations, as useful to reduce the stress responses. This randomized placebo-controlled study was designed to evaluate two premedicants, ketamine versus a combination of fentanyl- droperidol, rectally administered, in pediatric surgical outpatients. Methods We randomly assigned 120 children to three equal groups to be rectally premedicated with ketamine 10 mg kg -1 (group K), fentanyl 5 μg kg-1 + droperidol 100 lg kg-1 (group F), or saline 0.2 ml kg-1 (group P). A blinded observer scored the children's behavior, according to a four-category behavioral scale, before premedication (time A), 45 min after premedication (time B), immediately before venipuncture (time C), and during the venipuncture (time D). Features of the premedication technique, complications, parents' opinions, and contraindicationsto hospital discharge were recorded. Res...