Premedication with oral midazolam with or without parental presence

Abstract

Preoperative administration of midazolam 0.5 mg kg(-1) for premedication alone, without parental presence at induction, and that of low-dose midazolam 0.25 mg kg(-1) for premedication with parental presence at induction are both equally effective in reducing separation anxiety and providing a smooth emergence. However, parental presence alone, without midazolam for premedication, is not an adequate approach for this outcome. If the environment for parental presence is convenient, the dose of midazolam may be reduced and induction and emergence conditions may still be of high quality.