J Coll Physicians Surg Pak. 2025 Aug;35(8):1019-1027. doi: 10.29271/jcpsp.2025.08.1019.
ABSTRACT
Paediatric magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) allows visualisation of internal structures in children without the use of ionising radiation. It often requires sedation to minimise patient’s movement to enhance image quality. Dexmedetomidine and propofol are widely used as sedative agents, however, their comparative efficacy remains debated. This systematic review and meta-analysis, conducted from May to November 2023, examined 13 randomised controlled trials with 650 paediatric patients. Results favoured dexmedetomidine over propofol for reducing patient movement during MRI (SMD -0.68; 95% CI -1.16, -0.20; p = 0.005). However, sedation efficacy and adverse events showed no significant difference (RR 0.99; 95% CI 0.96, -1.01; p = 0.252 vs. RR 0.95; 95% CI 0.73, -1.23; p = 0.692), respectively. The findings highlight the potential of dexmedetomidine to improve MRI quality by reducing motion. However, further research is needed on diverse patient populations, long-term effects, and aspects such as cost-effectiveness and patient satisfaction to validate these results across broader contexts. Key Words: Paediatric MRI, Dexmedetomidine, Propofol, Sedation, Systematic review, Meta-analysis, Randomised controlled trials.
PMID:40843570 | DOI:10.29271/jcpsp.2025.08.1019
