Chloral hydrate or midazolam to induce sleep for electroencephalographic records HIDRATO DE CLORAL Y MIDAZOLAM EN SEDACION PARA ELECTROENCEFALOGRAMA EN NINOS DE 1 A 5 ANOS

Abstract

The efficacy of chloral hydrate and midazolam as sleep inductors for electroencephalographic recording (EEG) was compared in 59 children who received either chloral hydrate 50 ± mg ± kg (n: 32) or midazolam 1 mg ± kg (n: 27) by rectal administration. Thirty-three children who achieved spontaneous sleep were included as a reference group. All children in the chloral hydrate group fall asleep as compared to 66.6% in the midazolam group (p < 0.01). The latency period lasted 21.8 ± 17.5 min in the chloral hydrate group and 117.5 ± 47.2 min in the midazolam group (p < 0.01). Other variables such as age, sex, psychomotor development or time of awakening or feeding showed no significant influence on these results. Our results support the use of chloral hydrate by rectal administration in children who require sedation for EEG.