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Clinical Trials/NCT07375342
NCT07375342
Enrolling By Invitation
Not Applicable

Effect of Preoperative Oral Melatonin on Emergence Agitation Following Pediatric Tonsillectomy: a Randomized Controlled Trial

Benha University1 site in 1 country120 target enrollmentStarted: December 10, 2025Last updated:
InterventionsMelatoninPlacebo

Overview

Phase
Not Applicable
Status
Enrolling By Invitation
Enrollment
120
Locations
1
Primary Endpoint
Incidence and Severity of Emergence Agitation (EA): EA will be assessed using the Pediatric Anesthesia Emergence Delirium (PAED) scale

Overview

Brief Summary

The goal of this clinical trial is to learn if melatonin can decrease emergence agitation in pediatric post tonsillectomy. The main questions it aims to answer are:

Does melatonin decrease emergence agitation in pediatric post tonsillectomy? What medical problems do participants have when taking melatonin? Researchers will compare melatonin to a placebo (a look-alike substance that contains no drug) to see if melatonin works todecrease emergence agitation in pediatric post tonsillectomy

Participants will receive Oral melatonin at a dose of 0.5 mg/kg (maximum 20 mg) administered 30 minutes before induction of anesthesia. Dose chosen based on prior pediatric studies and safety data.

Study Design

Study Type
Interventional
Allocation
Randomized
Intervention Model
Parallel
Primary Purpose
Supportive Care
Masking
Quadruple (Participant, Care Provider, Investigator, Outcomes Assessor)

Eligibility Criteria

Ages
4 Years to 10 Years (Child)
Sex
All
Accepts Healthy Volunteers
No

Inclusion Criteria

  • American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) physical status I or II.
  • Parent/legal guardian provides written informed consent

Exclusion Criteria

  • • Known allergy or contraindication to melatonin.
  • Pre-existing neurological or psychiatric disorders (e.g., epilepsy, autism, ADHD).
  • Children receiving any sedative or psychoactive medication within 48 hours of surgery.
  • Emergency surgery or any procedure other than tonsillectomy/adenoidectomy.
  • Children with known sleep disorders or those taking melatonin supplements.
  • Developmental delay, neurologic disorders, sleep disorders, or known obstructive sleep apnea requiring ICU postoperatively.
  • Hepatic or renal dysfunction (ALT/AST \>2×ULN, Cr \>1.5 mg/dL)

Arms & Interventions

Group M (Melatonin Group)

Active Comparator

Intervention: Melatonin (Drug)

Group P (Placebo Group)

Placebo Comparator

Intervention: Placebo (Drug)

Outcomes

Primary Outcomes

Incidence and Severity of Emergence Agitation (EA): EA will be assessed using the Pediatric Anesthesia Emergence Delirium (PAED) scale

Time Frame: 5, 10, 15, and 30 minutes after arrival in the PACU.

The PAED scale consists of five items (eye contact, awareness of surroundings, purposeful actions, restlessness, and inconsolability), each scored from 0 to 4. Total score ranges from 0 to 20., scale ≥10 or equivalent define the presence of clinically significant EA

Secondary Outcomes

  • Time to Discharge(10-30 min from arriving to PACU)
  • Postoperative Pain(first 2 hours postoperative)
  • Rescue Analgesia(24 hours after surgery)
  • Adverse Events(first 24-hour post operative)
  • Parent/caregiver satisfaction(first 24-hour post operative)

Investigators

Sponsor Class
Other
Responsible Party
Principal Investigator
Principal Investigator

Taghreed Elshahat Sakr

lecturer of anesthesia and icu

Benha University

Study Sites (1)

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