A NEW ROUTE, JET INJECTION FOR ANESTHETIC INDUCTION IN CHILDREN - IV - MIDAZOLAM PLASMA-LEVELS

The jet injector route for midazolam was used in 40 children 1 - 6 yea rs of age undergoing various short duration surgical procedures. A ran domly selected dose of 100, 150, and 200 mu g/kg was given by a jet in jector and compared to 80 mu g/kg by conventional i.m. injection with syringe and needle to induce sedation/anesthesia. Because of clinical limitations, plasma midazolam levels were measured for only up to 32 m in post-injection. Peak levels were 70.4, 105.8, 157.3, and 135.5 ng/m l in the corresponding groups. Plasma levels reached their peak faster after 200 mu g/kg jet injection than after 80 mu g/kg i.m. midazolam. Furthermore, midazolam plasma levels were sustained longer after 200 mu g/kg by jet injection. Larger doses of midazolam are required by je t injection than by i.m. injection. Individual subjects showed conside rable variability in plasma levels of midazolam by both methods of adm inistration, although jet injection was more convenient and less traum atic.