RECTAL THIOPENTAL SODIUM FOR SEDATION OF PEDIATRIC-PATIENTS UNDERGOING NR AND OTHER IMAGING STUDIES

PURPOSE: To determine the efficacy and safety of rectal thiopental sod ium as a sedation agent for pediatric imaging. METHODS: Four hundred s ixty-two infants and children were sedated with rectal thiopental sodi um for MR, CT, or nuclear imaging in 1992 and 1993. Patients received screening histories and physical examinations before sedation, and par ents gave informed consent. Sedated patients were monitored by pulse o ximetry and direct observation. Twenty-four-hour telephone follow-up t o assess delayed side effects was performed successfully in 325 patien ts. RESULTS: Examinations were successfully completed in 96% of patien ts. The average time from drug administration to sedation was 12.2 min utes. The average time from sedation to discharge from radiology was 7 1.1 minutes. Eleven percent of patients had desaturation below the pul se oximetric baseline easily treated with oxygen and head positioning. Twenty-four-hour telephone follow-up in 325 patients revealed a 34% i ncidence of minor rectal irritation and diarrhea, sleepiness, nausea a nd vomiting, or ataxia. CONCLUSIONS: Rectal thiopental sodium is a saf e and effective drug for pediatric sedation.