INTRANASAL VERSUS INTRAVENOUS ADMINISTRATION OF MIDAZOLAM TO CHILDRENUNDERGOING SMALL-BOWEL BIOPSY

Sixty-three children under the age of 9 years were randomized to recei ve intravenous (group A, n = 33) or intranasal (group B, n = 30) midaz olam as sedation for small bowel biopsy. Mean doses of midazolam given to produce adequate sedation were 0.31 mg (kg body weight)(-1) in gro up A and 0.34 mg (kg body weight)(-1) in group B (NS). Four children i n group A and 10 children in group B required additional doses to main tain adequate sedation throughout the biopsy procedure (p <0.05). Ther e was no significant difference between the groups regarding the media n procedure time (7 min in group A, 8.5 min in group B) or median fluo roscopy time (5 s in group A, 4 s in group B). All children in group B showed signs of discomfort from the nose when given midazolam intrana sally. In conclusion, this study indicates that intravenous administra tion of midazolam is preferable to the intranasal route.