Intravenous midazolam sedation in pediatric diagnostic upper digestive endoscopy. A prospective study in a general hospital

The positive role of benzodiazepines (Midazolam) in conscious sedation in pediatric patients is widely known. However, problems concerning the role of sedation in diagnostic upper endoscopy are a matter for debate as little is known about dosage and timing. We prospectively evaluated the efficacy, safety and optimal intravenous sedation dosage of midazolam in 257 consecutive patients, aged 2 months to 18 years old, who underwent upper endoscopy of the gastrointestinal tract. The initial midazolam dosage was 0.2 mg/kg Bw (Body weight) i.v. for 1 minute and, if necessary, another 0.1 mg/kg Bw was administered 5 minutes later. If sedation was sufficient, the procedure would be started 4-5 minutes later; if not, another 0.1 - 0.2 mg/kg Bw would be administered. All procedures were performed by a pediatrician together with a gastroenterologist. No serious complications occurred in any of the procedures. Oxygen saturation (OS) was maintained at over 90%, if necessary with blowby oxygen. Flumazenil was administered to 7 children (OS < 90%). Endoscopy could not be completed in 1 child. All endoscopies were completed within 10 minutes. No unexpected hospital admissions were necessary. The mean midazolam dosage was 0.4 mg/kg Bw in patients up to 6 years, for the over 6 years-olds the mean dosage was decreased to 0,2 mg/kg Bw. Particular attention was paid to the importance of informing patients before the procedure. Endoscopic diagnostic procedures can be performed safely and effectively in children with intravenous sedation in a well equipped pediatric endoscopy unit.