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Newborns should be receiving premedication before elective intubation

Moegammad Shukri Raban, Yaseen Joolay, Alan Richard Horn, Michael Charles Harrison

Abstract


Background. Intubation is a common neonatal procedure. Premedication is accepted as a standard of care, but its use is not universal and wide variations exist in practice.

Objective. To evaluate current practices for premedication use prior to elective neonatal intubation in South Africa (SA).

Method. We invited 481 clinicians to participate in a cross-sectional web-based survey.

Results. We received responses from 28.3% of the clinicians surveyed; 54.1% were from the private sector and 45.9% from the state sector. Most respondents worked in medium-sized neonatal units with six to ten beds. Most paediatricians (76.0%) worked in the private sector, and 78.6% of neonatologists in the state sector. Premedication was practised by 71.9% of the respondents, but only 38.5% of neonatal units had a written policy. Sedatives were used for premedication by 63.2% of the respondents. Midazolam (41.5%), morphine (34.0%) and ketamine (20.8%) were most commonly used. Muscle relaxants and atropine were not routinely administered. Suxamethonium was the muscle relaxant of choice. Varied combinations of agents or single agents were used. Midazolam used alone was the preferred option.

Conclusion. This first survey of premedication for neonatal intubation in SA revealed variations in practice, with a minority of clinicians following a written policy. The findings can be used to benchmark practice and inform the design of local collaborative trials aimed at determining optimal premedication prior to neonatal intubation. The survey demonstrates clinicians’ reluctance to participate in surveys, suggesting a need for a national collaborative network to obtain representative data.

Authors' affiliations

Moegammad Shukri Raban, Division of Neonatal Medicine, Groote Schuur Hospital and Department of Paediatrics, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Cape Town, South Africa

Yaseen Joolay, Division of Neonatal Medicine, Groote Schuur Hospital and Department of Paediatrics, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Cape Town, South Africa

Alan Richard Horn, Division of Neonatal Medicine, Groote Schuur Hospital and Department of Paediatrics, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Cape Town, South Africa

Michael Charles Harrison, Division of Neonatal Medicine, Groote Schuur Hospital and Department of Paediatrics, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Cape Town, South Africa

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Keywords

Neonatal; Intubation; Preterm; Premedication

Cite this article

South African Medical Journal 2014;104(12):846-849. DOI:10.7196/SAMJ.8305

Article History

Date submitted: 2014-04-09
Date published: 2014-08-14

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