Midazolam compared with ketamine for invasive procedures

The combination of ketamine and topical placebo cream was compared with the combination of midazolam and topical lidocaine-prilocaine cream (EMLA) in 13 children with leukaemia undergoing bone marrow punctures. This double-blind, randomized, crossover study showed that the children prefer midazolam and EMLA as sedation for invasive procedures and that some parents and the nursing staff have doubts because of the anxiety during the procedure and the physical restraint that often is necessary during midazolam and EMLA. Both methods cause several, more or less unpleasant, side effects.