Nebulized Dexmedetomidine as a Premedication for Gastrointestinal Endoscopy in Pediatric Patients

Due to the intolerance of pediatric patients to the insertion of the endoscopic probe during upper gastrointestinal procedures, sedation and analgesia are required. In this patient group, the reflex to vomit is common during probe placement. Discomfort, pain, and hemodynamic changes can occur due to the vomiting reflex. In fact, this situation can lead to serious complications such as esophageal rupture. Inappropriate sedation conditions may result in increased post-procedural pain and agitation in patients.

Therefore, various sedative drugs are used for procedural sedation in pediatric patients. The use of these drugs during gastrointestinal endoscopy in the pediatric population can vary in terms of sedative, hemodynamic, respiratory, and side effects.

Dexmedetomidine, a highly selective alpha-2 agonist with central sedative and anxiolytic properties, has been tested in children for preoperative anxiolysis through nasal and inhalation routes. Due to its bioavailability of up to 82%, it is well absorbed systemically through oral and buccal routes.' It possesses sedative, analgesic, sympatholytic, and hemodynamic stability properties. Even at high doses, it has a unique feature of not causing respiratory depression, which gives it an advantage over other sedatives such as benzodiazepines, opioids, and propofol, all of which can cause dose-dependent respiratory depression. In this regard, it may be a good alternative for procedures like gastrointestinal endoscopy.

Based on these considerations, the investigators plan to conduct a randomized controlled study hypothesizing that nebulized dexmedetomidine as premedication in pediatric patients undergoing gastrointestinal endoscopy will significantly reduce the gag reflex.

108 patients will be included in the study. Patients will be divided into 2 groups.

• The control group (Group C)
• The group receiving nebulized dexmedetomidine (ND) (Group ND).

Inclusion criteria

• American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) physical status I and II
• 2 to 17 years of age,
• Patient undergoing in Upper Gastrointestinal Endoscopy

Exclusion criteria

• Patients with heart disease
• Patients with mental-motor retardation
• Patients with abnormal upper respiratory tract
• Patients with a history of asthma
• Patients with upper respiratory tract history in the last 4 weeks
• Patients with severe sleep apnea on polysomnography
• ASA >III patients
• Patients with drug allergies