PEDIATRIC SEDATION - SHORT-TERM EFFECTS

A prospective investigation on the short-term effects of various sedat ion regimens on 549 nonhospitalized magnetic resonance (MR) patients w as performed. The drugs evaluated were chloral hydrate, pentobarbital, midazolam, and diazepam (fentanyl was used for enhancement after any of these drugs). The overall safety and efficacy were quite good with all the regimens. Overall, 84% of children slept less than 8 h after t he examination, 90% were drowsy and/or unsteady for less than 8 h afte r they awoke, and 97% resumed their usual activities by 24 h. Signific ant hyperactivity was seen only with pentobarbital and occurred in 8.4 % of children over 8 years of age. The multiple-dose regimen of pentob arbital and fentanyl had a significant short-term effect on the childr en less than 8 years of age, with 35% sleeping longer than 8 h after t he MR. Ten children who had needed the multiple-dose pentobarbital reg imen or who had failed prior pentobarbital sedation presented for repe at sedation. Midazolam was effective in 9 of these 10 children.