Objective: To compare the efficacy and safety of four sedatives for epileptic children undergoing magnetic resonance imaging examination. Methods: Totally 320 epileptic children (from 3 to 12 years old) admitted into our hospital from Mar. 2015 to Mar. 2018 were extracted. According to the sequential time of MRI examination

all patients were enrolled and given four sedative drug regimens (chloral hydrate

dexmedetomidine

diazepam and midazolam) to evaluate the MRI imaging quality

sedation process and physiological indexes. Results: Among the four groups

the quality of MRI examination (72 cases) and inadequate sedation (16 cases) in the dexmedetomidine group were significantly better than those in the chloral hydrate group (28 cases

60 cases)

diazepam group (40 cases

44 cases) and midazolam group (52 cases

20 cases)

with statistically significant differences (P<0.05). The onset time of dexmedetomidine group (17.5±3.9) min was shorter than that of chloral hydrate group (35.6±6.8) min

diazepam group (25.5±5.7) min and midazolam group (36.1±7.9)min (P<0.05). The average arterial pressure

heart rate and ventilator frequency of four groups during sedation were lower than those before sedation (P<0.05). Conclusion: Four sedatives can be used for MRI examination in children with epilepsy

yet dexmedetomidine has certain advantages in providing more adequate sedation and higher image quality

and has no effects on hemodynamics and respiration.