A comparison of the effects of ketamine-midazolam and ketamine-propofol combinations on vital signs of non-cooperative children with dental diseases in a crossover study with repeated measurements: The Bayesian approach

Background: Vital parameters must be monitored during sedation. This study aimed to evaluate the effects of ketamine-midazolam (KM) and ketamine-propofol (KP) combinations on the heart rate (HR) and oxygen saturation (SPO2 ) of non-cooperative children. The model parameters were estimated using the Bayesian approach. Methods: The data were collected in a double-masked crossover study with repeated measurements (CSWRM). Twenty-two noncooperative children 3–6 years old were included, and the linear mixed model was adopted for data analysis. The Bayesian estimation of the parameters and their 95% credible interval were calculated in SAS 9.4. Results: The mean HR of KM recipients compared to KP recipients was significantly different by 4.47 beats per minute (bpm). The mean HR in KP was lower than KM’s, but SPO2 was not significantly different. Conclusion: Although the two drug combinations did not differ in SPO2 , they differed in HR. As such, the KP combination is recommended.