Table 1.

Studies comparing a sedative against another sedative, placebo, or standard treatment for VCUG. Design and interventions. (NSD: no significant difference; VCUG: voiding cystourethrogram; RNC: radionuclide cystography; VUR: vesicoureteric reflux; SD: standard deviation).

Authors; year; country	Title	Patients	Intervention and comparison	Nonpharmacological cointervention	Time of follow-up and differences (if any)
I. Akil, M. Ozkol,O. Y. Ikizoglu, M. Polat, O. Y. Tuncyurek, O. Taskin, H. Yuksel; 2005; Turkey [41]	“Premedication during micturating cystourethrogram to achieve sedation and anxiolysis”	53 (39F;14M), >6 m, median age of 6 y (range from 7 m to 11.1 y); first VCUG 98%	Oral midazolam of 0.6 mg/kg (max. of 15 mg) versus chloral hydrate of 25 mg/kg (max. of 500 mg) versus Placebo; 15–30 min prior to VCUG	Parents informed about MCUG and permission granted for sedative drug and making child nil by mouth for 3 h, parental presence not stated	Until they were allowed to drink clear liquids, usually 1 h after completion of the procedure
J. S. Elder, R. Longenecker; 1995; USA [43]	“Premedication with oral midazolam for voiding cystourethrography in children: safety and efficacy”	98 children previously distressed by VCUG (38) or appeared shy (79F;19M), mean age of 4.4 (range from 23 m to 9 y); 25 controls (21F : 4M), mean age of 4.6 (range not stated); first VCUG 61%	Oral midazolam of 0.6 mg/kg (max. of 15 mg), 20–30 min prior to VCUG or NUC versus standard care	Parents of intervention group-contacted prior with purpose of midazolam and expected effects, parents are allowed to be present	Phone call at 48 h
D. W. Herd, K. A. McAnulty, N. A. Keene, D. E. Sommerville; 2006; New Zealand [45]	“Conscious sedation reduces distress in children undergoing voiding cystourethrography and does not interfere with the diagnosis of vesicoureteric reflux: a randomized controlled study”	Children of 1–14 y (eligible); 139 randomised, 117 completed VCUG on the day (84F : 33M), 8 had VCUG completed later, age >1 y, mean ages of 3.6 y (SD1.8) and 3.4 y (SD2.1), ASAI-II	Oral midazolam of 0.5 mg/kg (max. of 15 mg), 30 min prior to catheter insertion versus placebo	All offered play therapy (visit to department, doll catheterised), four-page pamphlet, only the treatment group fasted for 6 h with solids and 4 h with liquid (i.e., control group was allowed to eat), parent/caregiver present, skilled nurse did all catheters	60–90 min after medication
I. Keidan, R. Zaslansky, M. Weinberg, A. Ben-Shlush, J. M. Jacobson, A. Augarten, Y. Mor; 2005; Israel [47]	“Sedation during voiding cystourethrography: comparison of the efficacy and safety of using oral midazolam and continuous flow nitrous oxide”	47 (42F : 5M), age of 3–16 y, ASAI and II, mean age of 6 (range from 3 to 15)	Oral midazolam of 0.5 mg/kg (max. of 15 mg), 20 min prior to procedure versus continuous flow 50% nitrous oxide	Both groups fasted with solids for 6 h, and liquids for 2 h, parents were encouraged to accompany the children throughout the procedure, flavoured nasal mask was used for nitrous oxide	24 h follow-up by telephone, recovery time of 63 min (SD 25) in midazolam group, 29 min (SD 10) in the N2O group (p < .001)
P. A. Merguerian, S. T. Corbett, J. Cravero; 2006; USA [48]	“Voiding ability using propofol sedation in children undergoing voiding cystourethrograms: a retrospective analysis”	544 charts, 287 selected ages from 2 to 8 (preselected), mean age of 51 m (244F : 43M), first VCUG 75%	Sevoflurane induction followed by propofol infusion on its own (historical controls)	Not reported
E. Stokland, S. Andréasson, B. Jacobsson, U. Jodal, B. Ljung; 2003; Sweden [52]	“Sedation with midazolam for voiding cystourethrography in children: a randomised double-blind study”	Children of 0.5 to 9 y (eligible), 95 enrolled (70F : 20M), gender stratified, median age of 2.2 y, midazolam, 3.2 placebo	Intranasal midazolam of 0.2 mg/kg (max. of 5 mg), 3–5 min prior to bladder catheter versus placebo	Oral and written information	Follow-up questionnaire and phone call at 48 h
J. L. Zier, K. A. Kvam, S. C. Kurachek, M. Finkelstein; 2007; USA [59]	“Sedation with nitrous oxide compared with no sedation during catheterization for urologic imaging in children”	Children of 4–18 y selected by investigator undergoing VCUG or RNC, enrolled 204 (165F : 39M) out of 389, mean age nonsedated: 6.4 (range of 4–15.2), sedated: 6.3 (range of 4–14.9)	Continuous flow 70% nitrous oxide until catheterisation is complete versus standard care	All patients fasted for 4 h	To time of discharge, longer in sedated group, 85 min versus 33 min (P < 0.001)