Comparing Pediatric Dental Oral Sedation Outcomes With and Without Meperidine in Children Aged 3-7 Years

Dental Caries in Children Clinical Trial

Official title:

Comparing Pediatric Oral Sedation Outcomes Using Midazolam and Hydroxyzine With and Without Meperidine

Clinical Trial Details — Status: Completed

Administrative data

• NCT number: NCT04068948
• Other study ID #: STUDY00006758
• Status: Completed
• Phase: Phase 4
• Start date: June 25, 2019
• Est. completion date: January 31, 2023

Study information

• Verified date: December 2023
• Source: University of Washington
• Contact: n/a
• Is FDA regulated: No
• Study type: Interventional

Clinical Trial Summary

The primary objective of this randomized controlled trial is to assess the effects of oral sedation using midazolam and hydroxyzine with and without meperidine (a narcotic) on sedation outcomes in pediatric dental patients undergoing dental treatment at the University of Washington Center for Pediatric Dentistry. Procedural sedation can be offered as an option for dental treatment for a young, potentially uncooperative pediatric patient to safely and effectively complete dental restorative needs. Both sedation regimens are already regularly used for patients at the UW CPD. The goal of this study is to assess if removing a narcotic from the regimen will produce the same behavioral success outcomes as a regimen with a narcotic. Our hypothesis is that patients who receive oral sedation using midazolam, hydroxyzine, and meperidine will experience fewer behavioral failures than those who receive oral sedation using midazolam and hydroxyzine without meperidine.

The secondary objective of this project is to evaluate the relationship between child temperament and sedation outcome in each treatment group.

Description:

Young children in the dental setting can pose significant behavioral challenges. These patients may have dental anxiety or lack the effortful control (self-regulation) to successfully navigate the dental experience. Oral procedural sedation is an advanced pharmacological behavior guidance technique that can be used as part of the pediatric dentist's armamentarium when basic behavior guidance techniques are likely to be ineffective. Oral sedation can be a valuable tool, not only to facilitate dental treatment, but also to protect a young child's psyche, reduce dental fear, and ensure safety of both the patient and the dental team.

Case selection is crucial to optimizing sedation outcomes. In addition to biological factors like age, gender, and weight, temperament must also be carefully evaluated for the pediatric oral sedation candidate. Compared with children with high levels of effortful control, children who exhibit high levels of impulsivity may be more likely to respond poorly to uncomfortable or unfamiliar procedures, exhibit uncooperative behavior during sedation, and ultimately experience more sedation failures.

There is no standard drug regimen or protocol for oral sedation. Medications used for sedation studies often have a wide therapeutic range, and dosages used in the literature vary widely. Varying drug regimens can also be used depending on operator preference and the extent of the procedure. Benzodiazepines, opioids, and antihistamines are commonly used drug options that can be used alone or in combination to achieve desired sedative effects and minimize potential side effects of counterpart drugs. For example, midazolam is a rapid-onset, short acting benzodiazepine that offers a sedative effect with some degree of amnesia. These qualities make midazolam an ideal sedative for relatively minor or quick operative procedures in young children. An opioid such as meperidine can be added to potentiate the sedative effect and offer analgesia for lengthier, more complex procedures. Additionally, an antihistamine like hydroxyzine can be added for additional sedative effects as well as an antiemetic effect to counter potential nausea from the use of an opioid. The use of supplemental nitrous oxide/oxygen (N2O/O2) in conjunction with a chosen sedation regimen has been shown to further potentiate sedation effects and improve sedation outcomes.

Despite proving to be an effective behavior management technique, procedural sedation poses its own set of risks. Compared with intravenous or intranasal methods of drug delivery, oral delivery of sedation medications can be challenging due to longer and more variable onset to sedation, unpredictable hepatic first-pass absorption and bioavailability, and an inability to titrate the medications. Sedation effects may linger long after the procedure is completed and affect post-discharge outcomes. Additionally, the use of multiple medications has been shown to increase the risk of adverse outcomes compared with single or dual-combination drug regimens.

The majority of adverse events during sedation can be avoided with careful case selection, medication dosing, and proper intra-operative monitoring. When adverse events do occur, they are typically due to respiratory depression, and can include laryngospasm, neurologic injury, and death. Thus, to avoid oversedation and subsequent adverse sequelae, multi-drug regimens (especially those that contain opioids like meperidine) must be used judiciously.

The midazolam/meperidine/hydroxyzine regimen is a popular combination of medications for pediatric dental sedation. The increase in the use of meperidine has been associated with a movement away from utilization of chloral hydrate (another sedative with no reversal agent, previously frequently used in conjunction with a combination of the aforementioned drugs or other drugs). While there are studies comparing sedation regimens that include both chloral hydrate and meperidine used together, meperidine is an increasingly preferred option over chloral hydrate for procedural sedation, especially with the availability of a reversal agent for the opioid in the instance of oversedation, as well as a shorter half-life compared with chloral hydrate. While narcotic-containing regimens are popular, there are still inherent risks in utilization of an opioid in any sedation regimen. Several studies have been published comparing sedation regimens that include meperidine, but to date, there are no studies comparing the efficacy of midazolam and hydroxyzine with and without meperidine. Additionally, many studies compare side effects of different regimens (for example, post-operative drowsiness, nausea, time spent asleep, crying), but few utilize the Houpt Behavior Rating that we plan to use to categorize sedation outcomes.

Recruitment information / eligibility

• Status: Completed
• Enrollment: 37
• Est. completion date: January 31, 2023
• Est. primary completion date: December 31, 2022
• Accepts healthy volunteers: Accepts Healthy Volunteers
• Gender: All
• Age group: 3 Years to 7 Years

Eligibility

Inclusion Criteria:

1. Are between 36-95 months of age and are planned for dental treatment at the University of Washington Center for Pediatric Dentistry,

2. Are ASA I or II, (healthy, or have mild, well-controlled systemic disease)

3. Are under the 95th weight for age BMI (body mass index) percentile,

4. Are able to take diagnostic bitewing dental radiographs,

5. Are able to take medications by mouth,

6. Have Brodsky scores of II or less (tonsil sizes take up less than 50% of the oropharyngeal opening at the back of the throat),

7. Are planned to receive operative treatment under local anesthesia,

8. Can understand and communicate with providers in English.

Exclusion Criteria:

1. Are diagnosed with autism, ADHD, or any other psychiatric or behavioral diagnosis,

2. Are ASA III or higher (severe systemic disease),

3. Are above the 95th weight for age BMI percentile,

4. Are unable to take diagnostic radiographs,

5. Will not tolerate taking medications by mouth,

6. Have Brodsky scores of greater than II (tonsil sizes take up more than 50% of the oropharyngeal opening at the back of the throat),

7. Have undergone oral sedation at a previous dental appointment,

8. Cannot understand or communicate with providers in English.

Related Conditions & MeSH terms

• Dental Caries
• Dental Caries in Children
• Hydroxyzine
• Meperidine
• Midazolam
• Pediatric Dental Sedation

Intervention

Drug:
• Meperidine
This intervention assesses a child's behavioral outcome for dental procedural sedation in combination with midazolam and hydroxyzine. Children participating in the study will randomly be assigned to receive either a drug regimen of midazolam+hydroxyzine, or midazolam+hydroxyzine+meperidine.
• Hydroxyzine
This intervention is given to children for a sedative effect. Children participating in the study will randomly be assigned to receive either a drug regimen of midazolam+hydroxyzine, or midazolam+hydroxyzine+meperidine.
• Midazolam
This intervention is given to children for a sedative effect. Children participating in the study will randomly be assigned to receive either a drug regimen of midazolam+hydroxyzine, or midazolam+hydroxyzine+meperidine.

Locations

Country	Name	City	State
United States	University of Washington Center for Pediatric Dentistry	Seattle	Washington

Sponsors (1)

Lead Sponsor	Collaborator
University of Washington

Country where clinical trial is conducted

United States, 

References & Publications (11)

Ashley PF, Chaudhary M, Lourenco-Matharu L. Sedation of children undergoing dental treatment. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2018 Dec 17;12(12):CD003877. doi: 10.1002/14651858.CD003877.pub5. — View Citation

Attri JP, Sharan R, Makkar V, Gupta KK, Khetarpal R, Kataria AP. Conscious Sedation: Emerging Trends in Pediatric Dentistry. Anesth Essays Res. 2017 Apr-Jun;11(2):277-281. doi: 10.4103/0259-1162.171458. — View Citation

Chicka MC, Dembo JB, Mathu-Muju KR, Nash DA, Bush HM. Adverse events during pediatric dental anesthesia and sedation: a review of closed malpractice insurance claims. Pediatr Dent. 2012 May-Jun;34(3):231-8. — View Citation

Chowdhury J, Vargas KG. Comparison of chloral hydrate, meperidine, and hydroxyzine to midazolam regimens for oral sedation of pediatric dental patients. Pediatr Dent. 2005 May-Jun;27(3):191-7. — View Citation

Cote CJ, Notterman DA, Karl HW, Weinberg JA, McCloskey C. Adverse sedation events in pediatrics: a critical incident analysis of contributing factors. Pediatrics. 2000 Apr;105(4 Pt 1):805-14. doi: 10.1542/peds.105.4.805. — View Citation

Gentz R, Casamassimo P, Amini H, Claman D, Smiley M. Safety and Efficacy of 3 Pediatric Midazolam Moderate Sedation Regimens. Anesth Prog. 2017 Summer;64(2):66-72. doi: 10.2344/anpr-64-02-04. — View Citation

Kain ZN, MacLaren J, McClain BC, Saadat H, Wang SM, Mayes LC, Anderson GM. Effects of age and emotionality on the effectiveness of midazolam administered preoperatively to children. Anesthesiology. 2007 Oct;107(4):545-52. doi: 10.1097/01.anes.0000281895.81168.c3. — View Citation

Lane KJ, Nelson TM, Thikkurissy S, Scott JM. Assessing Temperament as a Predictor of Oral Sedation Success Using the Children's Behavior Questionnaire Short Form. Pediatr Dent. 2015 Sep-Oct;37(5):429-35. — View Citation

McCormack L, Chen JW, Trapp L, Job A. A comparison of sedation-related events for two multiagent oral sedation regimens in pediatric dental patients. Pediatr Dent. 2014 Jul-Aug;36(4):302-8. — View Citation

McKee KC, Nazif MM, Jackson DL, Barnhart DC, Close J, Moore PA. Dose-responsive characteristics of meperidine sedation in preschool children. Pediatr Dent. 1990 Jul-Aug;12(4):222-7. — View Citation

Shapira J, Kupietzky A, Kadari A, Fuks AB, Holan G. Comparison of oral midazolam with and without hydroxyzine in the sedation of pediatric dental patients. Pediatr Dent. 2004 Nov-Dec;26(6):492-6. — View Citation

* Note: There are 11 references in all — Click here to view all references

Outcome

Type	Measure	Description	Time frame	Safety issue
Primary	Number of Participants With Successful Sedation	Children's behavior during sedation is rated on the Houpt Behavior Rating Scale. A successful sedation is rated as Excellent, Very Good, or Good. A failed sedation is rated as Fair, Poor, or Aborted.	At completion of procedure
Secondary	Child Temperament According to CBQ-SF and Association With Sedation Outcomes	Children's temperament will be assessed via parental completion of the Child Behavior Questionnaire Short Form (CBQ-SF) to assess which child temperaments may be more suitable candidates for dental oral sedation.; The CBQ-SF is a set of 94 statements scoring a child's temperament on 15 domains: activity level, anger/frustration, approach/positive anticipation, attentional focusing, discomfort, falling reactivity/soothability, fear, high intensity pleasure, impulsivity, inhibitory control, low intensity pleasure, perceptual sensitivity, sadness, shyness, and smiling and laughter.; There is no "better or worse outcome." The range is from 1 (minimum) to 7 (maximum) for all domains. A higher score indicates closer alignment with that temperament domain.; Subscales of each primary domain (Effortful Control, Negative Affectivity, and Extraversion/Surgency) are combined and the sums averaged to create the total score for the 3 primary domains	During procedure