Nebulized dexmedetomidine with ketamine versus dexmedetomidine alone for sedation in children having cleft palate repair

Nebulized Dexmedetomidine Combined With Ketamine Versus Nebulized Dexmedetomidine to Induce Preoperative Sedation and Attenuate Emergence Agitation in Children Undergoing Cleft Palate Repair Surgeries

Phase 4 Interventional Assiut University · NCT05821972

This will test whether adding ketamine to nebulized dexmedetomidine helps sedate children undergoing cleft palate repair and reduces emergence delirium.

Quick facts

PhasePhase 4
Study typeInterventional
Enrollment60 (estimated)
Ages12 Months to 48 Months
SexAll
SponsorAssiut University Academic / other
Locations1 site (Asyut)
Trial IDNCT05821972 on ClinicalTrials.gov

What this trial studies

This Phase 4 interventional comparison gives children scheduled for primary cleft palate repair a preoperative nebulized dose of either dexmedetomidine plus ketamine or dexmedetomidine alone. Participants are ASA I–II pediatric patients without major comorbidities and are monitored for sedation onset, hemodynamic effects, and emergence delirium postoperatively. Investigators record intraoperative and recovery room outcomes to compare effectiveness and side-effect profiles between the two nebulized regimens. The protocol excludes patients with suspected difficult airways, significant cardiac, hepatic, renal or endocrine disease, asthma, psychiatric disorders, or drug allergies.

Who should consider this trial

Good fit: Children ASA I–II scheduled for primary cleft palate repair who have no major organ disease, no asthma or psychiatric illness, and no allergy to dexmedetomidine or ketamine.

Not a fit: Children with significant cardiac, renal, hepatic, or endocrine disease, asthma, psychiatric disorders, suspected difficult airway, or known allergy to the drugs are excluded and unlikely to benefit from this protocol.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: If successful, adding ketamine to nebulized dexmedetomidine could provide quicker, more stable preoperative sedation and lower the risk of emergence delirium without respiratory depression.

How similar studies have performed: Dexmedetomidine is widely used for pediatric premedication and small studies suggest ketamine can complement it, but nebulized ketamine-dexmedetomidine combinations for cleft palate premedication are relatively novel.

Eligibility criteria

Show full inclusion / exclusion criteria
Inclusion Criteria:

* Patients with American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) physical status I \& II who will be scheduled for cleft palate repair surgeries

Exclusion Criteria:

* Parent refusal
* Allergy to the study drugs
* Suspected difficult airway
* Patients with endocrine, renal, hepatic, and cardiac pathology
* Psychiatric diseases
* Asthmatic patients.

Where this trial is running

Asyut

Study contacts

How to participate

  1. Review the eligibility criteria above with your treating physician.
  2. Visit the official trial page on ClinicalTrials.gov for the most current contact information and recruitment status.
  3. Contact the listed study coordinator or principal investigator to request pre-screening. Pre-screening is free and never obligates you to enroll.
Conditions SedationEmergence DeliriumdexmedetomidineKetamineNebulizationCleft palateEmergence delirium
Last reviewed 2026-06-13 by the Find a Trial editorial team. Information on this page is for educational purposes and is not medical advice. Always consult qualified healthcare professionals about clinical trial participation.