Nebulized Dexmedetomidine Combined With Ketamine Versus Nebulized Dexmedetomidine to Induce Preoperative Sedation and Attenuate Emergence Agitation in Children Undergoing Cleft Palate Repair Surgeries

Cleft palate is a common congenital anomaly. The American cleft palate-craniofacial Association recommends that primary cleft palate repair should be ideally performed between 12-18 months after birth.

The pre-operative period is quite distressing for children due to parental separation, application of face mask for induction of anaesthesia, fear of needles and unfamiliar faces. Pre-operative Anxiety is associated with adverse outcomes via elevation of stress markers, promoting fluctuations in hemodynamic, and negatively impacting postoperative recovery. There is a growing interest in the use of dexmedetomidine, a highly selective alpha-2 adrenergic agonist, for paediatric premedication. Ketamine may attenuate dexmedetomidine-induced bradycardia and hypotension and accelerate the onset of sedation with no respiratory depression.