Melatonin for non-operating room sedation in paediatric population: a systematic review and meta-analysis

source extracted confidence: high 2026-04-09
#adolescent #audiometry-evoked-response #child #child-preschool #chloral-hydrate

Melatonin for non-operating room sedation in paediatric population: a systematic review and meta-analysis

Ahmed et al., 2022 | Arch Dis Child | Meta Analysis

Citation

Ahmed Javed, Patel Waseemoddin, ... Razak Abdul. Melatonin for non-operating room sedation in paediatric population: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Arch Dis Child. 2022-Jan;107(1):78-85. doi:10.1136/archdischild-2020-320592

Abstract

CONTEXT: The literature on melatonin as a sedative agent in children is limited. OBJECTIVE: To conduct a systematic review of studies assessing the efficacy and safety of melatonin for non-operating room sedation in children. METHODS: Medline, Embase, Cochrane Library and Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health were searched until 9 April 2020 for studies using melatonin and reporting one of the prespecified outcomes of this review. Two authors independently assessed the eligibility, risk of bias and extracted the data. Studies with a similar study design, comparator and procedure were pooled using the fixed-effect model. RESULTS: 25 studies (clinical trials=3, observational studies=9, descriptive studies=13) were included. Melatonin was used for electroencephalogram (EEG) (n=12), brainstem evoked response audiometry (n=8) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) (n=5). No significant differences were noted on meta-analysis of EEG studies comparing melatonin with sleep deprivation (SD) (relative risk (RR) 1.06 (95% CI 0.99 to 1.12)), melatonin with chloral hydrate (RR 0.97 (95% CI 0.89 to 1.05)) and melatonin alone with melatonin and SD combined (RR 1.03 (95% CI 0.97 to 1.10)) for successful procedure completion. However, significantly higher sedation failure was noted in melatonin alone compared with melatonin and SD combined (RR 1.55 (95% CI 1.02 to 2.33)) for EEG. Additionally, meta-analysis showed lower sleep latency for melatonin compared with SD (mean difference -10.21 (95% CI -11.53 to -8.89) for EEG. No major adverse events were reported with melatonin. CONCLUSION: Although several studies were identified, and no serious safety concerns were noted, the evidence was not of high quality to establish melatonin's efficacy for non-operating room sedation in children.

Key Findings

25 studies (clinical trials=3, observational studies=9, descriptive studies=13) were included. Melatonin was used for electroencephalogram (EEG) (n=12), brainstem evoked response audiometry (n=8) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) (n=5). No significant differences were noted on meta-analysis of EEG studies comparing melatonin with sleep deprivation (SD) (relative risk (RR) 1.06 (95% CI 0.99 to 1.12)), melatonin with chloral hydrate (RR 0.97 (95% CI 0.89 to 1.05)) and melatonin alone with melat

Outcomes Measured

  • Requires manual extraction

Population

Field Value
Population See abstract
Sample Size 12
Age Range See abstract
Condition sleep

MeSH Terms

  • Adolescent
  • Audiometry, Evoked Response
  • Child
  • Child, Preschool
  • Chloral Hydrate
  • Electroencephalography
  • Humans
  • Hypnotics and Sedatives
  • Infant
  • Infant, Newborn
  • Magnetic Resonance Imaging
  • Melatonin
  • Operating Rooms
  • Sleep Deprivation

Evidence Classification

  • Level: Meta Analysis
  • Publication Types: Journal Article, Meta-Analysis, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't, Systematic Review
  • Vertical: melatonin

Provenance

Source extracted via PubMed E-utilities API on 2026-04-09