A comparative study of oral premedication in children with ketamine and fentanyl

Aim and Objectives: To do a comparative study of oral premedication in children with Ketamine and Fentanyl. Materials and methods: A randomized prospective study was conducted in 50 children scheduled for various surgical procedures in hospital. : In this study, the children were divided into two groups. Group A: Ketamine 6 mg/kg, Group B: Fentanyl 15 μg/kg. The groups were assessed on the basis of sedation, separation from the parents (anxiolysis), response to venepuncture, acceptance of face mask. Oxygen saturation, heart rate, blood pressure and respiratory rate were continuously measured.Results: All children posted for elective surgeries were in the age group between 2 and 8 years. The mean age in group A was 3.84+1.46 years and in group B it was 3.6 + 1.32 years. The difference in the mean age was not statistically significant (p>0.05). The two groups were more or less homogenous. The mean weight for group A was 14.08 + 2.8 kg and group B was 13.96 + 2.52 kg. The difference in the mean weight was not statistically significant. (p> 0.05). Similarly, the sex between the two groups were comparable. The mean height for group A was 155.70 + 2.74cm and group B was 155.60 + 2.83cm. The difference in the mean sex was not statistically significant. The sedation score has degree of freedom 3, Chi square of 2.14, for significance at 0.05 level, Chi square should be greater than or equal to 7.81. The parental separation score has degree of freedom 3, Chi square of 5.81, for significance at 0.05 level, Chi square should be greater than or equal to 7.81. The sedation score has degree of freedom 3, Chi square of 7.99, for significance at 0.05 level, chisquare should be greater than or equal to 7.81. The sedation score has degree of freedom 3, chisquare of 6.51, for significance at 0.05 level, chisquare should be greater than or equal to 7.81. Conclusion: In conculsion ketamine and fentanyl are equally effective premedicants. However, oral ketamine may be preferable to fentanyl because of lower cost.