Comparison of Atomised vs Nebulised Dexmedetomidine for premedication in children upto 8 years undergoing cataract surgery

The preoperative period can be very traumatic for children undergoing surgery. Paediatric anaesthesiologists strive to minimise the distress for children in the operating room to provide smooth induction of anaesthesia. The ideal pre-medicant should be readily acceptable and should have a rapid and reliable onset with minimal side-effects. Dexmedetomidine is a newer alpha-2 agonist that has been used in paediatric patients for procedural sedation and premedication. Intra-nasal administration of premedicants in children is relatively easy and reduces the discomfort associated with intramuscular or intravenous injection. The absolute bioavailability is approximately 82 % following intranasal administration. The time to onset is 15-30 minutes with sedation observed upto 1-2 hours. The atomised form is a relatively safer and newer form of administration, readily acceptable by children. We wish to compare this form with the nebulised form of administration and asses the sedation score in the form of parental separation in the children upto 8 years of age undergoing cataract surgery.