Midazolam and meperidine were used for intravenous sedation. The mean dosage of midazolam given to patients between 6 and 9 undergoing oesophagogastroduodenoscopy was significantly higher than that given to children under 2 or over 10 (0.1mg/kg <2 years, 0.15mg/kg 6 to 9 years, 0.11mg/kg >10 years; p<0.05). The mean dosage of meperidine given to patients from 3 to 5 and 6 to 9 years undergoing oesophagogastroduodenoscopy was significantly higher than that given to children under 2 and over 10 years (1.5mg/kg <2 years, 2.3mg/kg 3 to 5 years, 2.4mg/kg 6 to 9 years, 1.8mg/kg >10 years; p<0.5). Doses of meperidine and midazolam given to the children undergoing colonoscopy were not significantly different in any age group.
No significant differences in heart rate were reported within similar age groups during procedures. Heart rates before and after procedures were significantly higher in the under 2 years group given intravenous sedation than in those given general anaesthesia (156 beats/minute before and 153 beats after in the intravenous sedation group, versus 138 beats/minute before and 135 after in the general anaesthesia group; p<0.01).
The Relative Adequacy Scale (RAS) was constructed to assess the patients' arousal and cooperation during intravenous sedation only on a scale of 1 (asleep throughout the procedure) to 6 (unable to complete the procedure despite extra medication and nursing assistance). From 103 procedures, 90 (87%) were performed without the need for additional nursing support (RAS<=4).
The mean procedure room time was longer for patients under 2 and from 6 to 9 years who had oesophagogastroduodenoscopy under IV-S than those under GA (75 versus 44 minutes <2 years; p<0.01 and 84versus 58 minutes 6 to 9 years; p<0.01). No statistically significant differences were noted between procedure room times for patients undergoing colonoscopy.