Research Article

How Do Observational Scales Correlate the Ratings of Children’s Behavior during Pediatric Procedural Sedation?

Table 1

Randomized, controlled clinical trials on pediatric dental sedation (2011–2016).

CitationParticipantsSedative regimeDental procedureBehavioral outcomesResults/conclusions

Malhotra et al., 2016 [3]36 children, 3–9 years oldMK: saline IN and midazolam (0.5 mg/kg) PO with ketamine (5 mg/kg) mixed in mango juice
DX: dexmedetomidine (1 μg/kg) IN and mango juice
C: saline IN and mango juice
UnclearSedation level and behavior score (modified observer assessment of alertness and sedation, MOAAS)
Ease of treatment completion (Houpt scale)
MK: 75.0% patients successfully sedated; DX, 53.9%; C, none
Houpt scores were higher in MK than DX

Flores-Castillo et al., 2015 [4]13 children,
17–46 months old
A: midazolam (0.4 mg/kg) SC
B: midazolam-ketamine (0.4 and 0.1 mg/kg) SC
Procedures with local anesthesiaBehavior (modified Houpt scale)Group A: 53.85% (no cry and no movement)
Group B: 69.23% (cry and movement that not interfere with treatment)

Salem et al., 2015 [5]88 children,
4–7 years old
Midazolam (0.2 or 0.5 mg/kg) PO
A: PO formulation
B: IV formulation
Pulp therapy in primary molarsBehavior (North Carolina and Houpt scale)Acceptable behavior in 90.9% (A) and 79.5% (B)

Mahmoud and Haggag, 2014 [6]30 children,
4–8 years old
A: dexmedetomidine (2.5 mcg/kg) PO
B: midazolam (0.5 mg/kg) PO
Procedures with local anesthesiaBehavior (modified Houpt scale)Median Houpt scores were 4 (A) and 3 (B)

Ghajari et al., 2014 [7]16 children,
2–6 years old
A: midazolam (0.5 mg/kg) + hydroxyzine (1 mg/kg) PO
B: chloral hydrate (50 mg/kg) + hydroxyzine (1 mg/kg) PO
Not citedBehavior (Houpt scale)Groups differed in sedation success: A: 64.3%; B: 33.3%

Natarajan Surendar et al., 2014 [8]84 children,
4–14 years old
D1: dexmedetomidine (1 mcg/kg) IN
D2: dexmedetomidine (1.5 mcg/kg) IN
M1: midazolam (0.2 mg/kg) IN
K1: ketamine (5 mg/kg) IN
Teeth extractionsBehavior (author’s scale)
Pain (the FLACC Pain Assessment Tool)
Success: D2 (85.7%), D1 (81%), K1 (66.7%), M1 (61.9%)

Sheta et al., 2014 [9]72 children,
3–6 years old
A: midazolam (0.2 mg/kg) IN
B: dexmedetomidine (1 µg/kg) IN
Dental rehabilitationSedation status (no specific scale)Children sedation:
A: 44.4%
B: 77.8%

Azevedo et al., 2013 [10]10 children,
2–4 years old
Midazolam in different doses (0.2 to 0.4 mg/kg) PO
placebo PO
Dental rehabilitationBehavior (Frankl scale), Adequacy of sedation (Ramsay scale)All midazolam doses allowed positive behavior and longer appointments
Midazolam: 58.1%
Placebo: 31.0%

Chopra et al., 2013 [11]30 children,
2–8 years old
A: midazolam (0.25 mg/kg) MB spray
B: midazolam (0.25 mg/kg) IN
Procedure with local anesthesiaBehavior (Houpt scale)
Acceptability of administration route
The acceptance in A was better than in B. There was no difference in behavior scores

Mittal et al., 2013 [12]40 children,
2–6 years old
Premedication: midazolam (0.5 mg/kg) PO
Intervention:
A: propofol (1–1.5 mg/kg) IV
B: ketofol (1–1.5 mg/kg midazolam + 0.25 mg/kg ketamine) IV
Maintenance: propofol (25–75 mg/kg/min) IV (bolus if needed)
Pulpectomy in primary molarsBehavior: procedural success, operator satisfaction, quality of sedation
Also duration of treatment, recovery time, total dose of propofol
Other analysis showed no behavior differences between groups

Moreira et al., 2013 [13]41 children,
<3 years old
A: midazolam (0.5 mg/kg) PO + ketamine (3 mg/kg) PO
B: midazolam (1.0 mg/kg) PO
C: placebo PO
Procedures under local anesthesia and protective stabilizationBehavior (OSUBRS)Group A was associated with more cooperative behavior and a longer session

Toomarian et al., 2013 [1]30 children,
2–6 years old
Crossover design
hydroxyzine (1 mg/kg) PO associated with:
A: meperidine (2 mg/kg) PO
B: meperidine (1 mg/kg) SM
C: midazolam 0.5 mg/kg PO
Pulp therapy in primary teethBehavior (Houpt and modified Houpt)Success rates:
A: 46.7%; B: 50%; C: 26.7%
Patients ≥ 4 years old had six times greater chance of success

Tyagi et al., 2013 [14]40 children,
2–6 years old
Parallel design
A: midazolam (0.5 mg) PO
B: diazepam (0.5 mg) PO
C: midazolam (0.06 mg/kg) IV
D: placebo PO
Restorations, pulp therapy, extractions, local anesthesia when necessaryBehavioral changes (Houpt scale)Groups A and B: Similar sedative effects. Group C showed better scores in behavior. Group D: more negative behavior Midazolam was better than diazepam

Collado et al., 2013 [15]98 patients,
7–15 years old
A: patients with intellectual disability (ID, 33)
B: Dentally anxious patients (DA, 44)
Midazolam (0.3 to 0.5 mg/kg) IV with or without inhalation sedation (50% N2O/O2)
Not citedSuccess rate, level of cooperation (Venham), level of sedation (Ramsay scale)In patients with DA and ID, more sessions were conducted with a totally relaxed patient (Venham score of 0)
Success rate:
A: 89.1%
B: 90.6%

Bhatnagar et al., 2012 [16]60 children,
3–9 years old
Parallel design
A: midazolam (0.5 mg/kg) PO
B: tramadol (2 mg/kg) PO
C: triclofos (70 mg/kg) PO
D: zolpidem (0.4 mg/kg) PO
Not citedLevel of sedation (no scale) and ease of handlingGroups A and B achieved better levels of sedation. D showed worse cooperation. Midazolam produced the best results, similar to tramadol

Guelmann et al., 2012 [17]17 children,
5–8 years old
A: discontinuation of nitrous oxide after local anesthesia (100% O2)
B: Constant nitrous oxide (50% de N2O/50% O2)
Restorative procedures, lower archBehavior (OSUBRS)There were no differences between groups

Somri et al., 2012 [18]90 children,
3–10 years old
Midazolam PO administered in one of 3 doses:
A: 0.5 mg/kg
B: 0.75 mg/kg
C: 1 mg/kg
General proceduresBehavior (Houpt scale)
Sedation level (Wisconsin sedation scale)
Completion of procedures
Sedation scores, cooperation, completion of the procedure were higher in B and C than in A

Bahetwar et al., 2011 [19]45 children,
2–6 years old
A: midazolam (0.3 mg/kg) IN
B: ketamine (6 mg/kg) IN
C: midazolam + ketamine (0.2 mg/kg; 4 mg/kg) IN
Procedures under local anesthesia (infiltrative or block)Success of treatmentQuicker sedation onset in B
Success rates:
A: 69.0%; B: 89.0%; C: 84.0%

Pandey et al., 2011 [2]34 children,
2–6 years old
Ketamine (6 mg/kg) IN administered with
atomizer (A) and
dropper (B)
Procedures under local anesthesia (infiltrative or block)Success of sedation, behavior during administration and treatment, onset, sedation depth, recovery timeSedation was successful in 84% (B) to 95% (A)
Group A had quicker onset and recovery time after sedation

Shabbir et al., 2011 [20]12 children,
3–9 years old
A: triclofos (70 mg/kg) PO
B: midazolam (0.5 mg/kg) PO
Procedures under local anesthesiaBehavior (Houpt scale)Midazolam was more efficacious than triclofos

IN = intranasal route; IV = intravenous route; MB = buccal route; SM = submucous route; PO = oral route; SC = subcutaneous route; OSUBRS = Ohio State University Behavioral Rating Scale; N2O = nitrous oxide; O2 = oxygen.