Evaluation of the sedative effect of intranasal versus intramuscular ketamine in 2-6-year-old uncooperative dental patients.

Background: Conscious sedation has gained more popularity these days, with different routes of drug administration having various advantages and disadvantages. Among all, ketamine is one of the most commonly used drugs in children.

Objectives: The aim of the present study was to compare 2 different routes of ketamine administration - intranasal (IN) vs. intramuscular (IM) - in 2-6-year-old uncooperative children needing dental treatment.

Material and methods: This single-blind, crossover clinical trial was conducted on a group of 26 uncooperative children aged 2-6 years, who required at least 2 similar dental treatment visits. The patients were randomly assigned into 2 groups: group I - IN ketamine at their 1st session and IM ketamine at the 2nd session; and group II - exactly the opposite sequence. The sedative efficacy of the 2 techniques was assessed by 2 independent pediatric dentists based on the Houpt sedation rating scale. The data was analyzed using the Wilcoxon test, the repeated measures analysis of variance (ANOVA) and the least significant difference (LSD) test.

Results: The participants showed reduced crying and movement with improved sleepiness at the 3 time points examined when IM administration was performed as compared to IN sedation (p < 0.05). The overall behavior scores were higher for the IM route as compared to the IN route at all tested time points (p < 0.05). The operating dentist and the parents believed that the IM route was significantly more effective (p < 0.05). The children in the IN session reached equilibrium faster than those in the IM session (p < 0.05). No significant statistical differences were noted between the groups with regard to various physiological parameters investigated at different time intervals.

Conclusions: Intramuscular ketamine was more satisfactory and effective than the IN route when sedating uncooperative children for dentistry.