EFFECT OF HELICAL CT ON THE FREQUENCY OF SEDATION IN PEDIATRIC-PATIENTS

OBJECTIVE. We compared the use of sedation for helical CT examination of pediatric patients with that for conventional CT studies. MATERIALS AND METHODS. We retrospectively compared two 4-month periods of CT ex aminations that differed only in that conventional CT was routinely us ed in one period and helical CT was exclusively used in the other peri od, For these two periods, we compared the type and number of CT exami nations, the sedation used (if any), and the age of patients who requi red sedation. RESULTS. We performed 1055 conventional CT examinations in 762 pediatric cancer patients, Of the 264 children who were 8 years old or younger, 107 had been sedated, In com parison, 1195 helical CT examinations were performed on 838 patients; of the 246 children 8 ye ars old or younger, 51 received sedation, For both study groups, the m ean and median age of the patients was 4 years old. The mean age of pa tients requiring sedation was 21 (conventional CT) or 20 months (helic al CT); the median age of patients who required sedation was 2 years o ld for both study groups, Patients who were 8 years old or younger and who underwent helical CT required sedation 49% less frequently than s uch patients who underwent conventional CT, The most dramatic reductio n occurred among patients who were 3 years old or younger (p less than or equal to.004). CONCLUSION. Use of helical CT reduced the need for sedation among our pediatric patients, Fewer sedations may reduce the risk of complications, decrease disruption of the patient's normal dai ly activities, and improve patient throughput, The associated savings in personnel rime and pharmaceutical costs can be redistributed.