Objective: Intranasal midazolam (INM) is an increasingly popular agent for sedation in the emergency department and outside the hospital in physician, imaging, and dental offices, to facilitate diagnostic and minor surgical procedures and avoid the need for an operating room and general anesthesia. The use of INM has been commonly associated with a burning sensation of the nasal mucosa. Despite its significance, this subject has received little adequate research focus. The objective of the current study was to evaluate the effectiveness of topical lidocaine in relieving pain related to INM administration.
Method and materials: This was a blinded, randomized placebo-controlled trial. Sixty-three uncooperative children undergoing dental treatment, aged 4 to 11 years, were randomly assigned to one of three groups to receive the drug nasally via a precalibrated spray as per the following assignments: group A received 0.5 mg/kg midazolam, group B received lidocaine 2% prior to 0.5 mg/kg midazolam, and group C received saline 0.9% (placebo), 0.5 mg/kg. Children were asked to record the degree of pain using the Wong-Baker faces scale. Parental acceptance was also rated.
Results: Topical lidocaine prior to INM administration reduced the burning sensation in the nasal mucosa and improved the drug acceptance. The median score of pain was 8, 1, and 4 in groups A, B, and C, respectively. The differences among the three groups were statistically significant (P > .05). The children's acceptance and parents' future acceptance regarding the intranasal drug administration was significantly higher in group B.
Conclusion: INM administration results in burning sensation in the nasal mucosa with high levels of pain. Using topical lidocaine 2% counteracted the burning sensation and achieved a higher acceptance rate and lower pain scores.
Keywords: burning sensation; children; intranasal; lidocaine; midazolam.